E-Paper
Probe into election dispute at Galleria Association
Months after complaints over alleged irregularities in the June 2012 elections of the DLF-IV Galleria Condom-inium Association, the Registrar, Firm and Societies, Chandigarh, finally admitted their complaints to probe the matter.
Months after complaints over alleged irregularities in the June 2012 elections of the DLF-IV Galleria Condom-inium Association, the Registrar, Firm and Societies, Chandigarh, finally admitted their complaints to probe the matter.
Disgruntled shop and office owners, who were debarred from participating in the 2012 elections after their memberships were declared null and void, said the president, secretary, treasurer and others conducted the association elections in gross violation of laws.
The local registrar office has been asked to submit a report.
"I have been informed by the Registrar, Chandigarh of the development. We would submit a report on the action taken," said Hardayal Sehrawat, the district registrar.
Section 40 of the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Societies Act/Rule 2012 allows an appeal to higher authority to conduct fresh elections in such circumstances.
The complainants have also said the local registrar office connived with the association and submitted a report in the core committee members' favour. Sehrawat refused to comment on the allegations.
"The local registrar appointed an authority (administrator) to inspect the violation but the report was made in favour of the core committee members," alleged Savita Malhotra, one of the members who had been debarred.
Malhotra said the core committee, headed by Atul Mitra, had arbitrarily debarred as many as 80 owners-cum-members from participating in the association's election.
Mitra, however, has refuted the allegations. "The elections were held in a fair manner and there was no dispute. Members had been debarred on valid reasons," he said.
"In the report, the administrator said those who had been debarred should be reinstated but he did not declare the election null and void," added Pradeep Mangla, another
member. The report made it clear that all members' membership, including those debarred, stands undisputed.
On the other hand, the local registrar cited lack of jurisdiction for the move. "The local registrar cannot declare an election null and void. Such authority is vested with the Chandigarh office," said Sehrawat.
