Authority: Supreme Court of India
Order Date: 29-06-2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Kale Pravin Ganpat & Ors. (Petitioners) vs. Dilip B. Bankar Patil & Ors. (Respondents).
- Nature of Proceeding: Special Leave Petitions (C) No. 21647/2026 and No. 21665/2026 arising from the High Court judgment dated 28‑05‑2026.
- Subject Matter: Eligibility of 22 individual shareholder‑members to be included in the voters' list for the election to the Board of Directors of Aurangabad District Central Co‑operative Bank Ltd for the tenure 2026‑2031.
- Petitioners' Argument: Membership was completed before the cutoff; Resolution No. 20 approved induction, share certificates issued on 29‑02‑2024, admission amount deposited on 14‑03‑2024, and members participated in the AGM on 29‑09‑2025, establishing eligibility.
- Respondent's Argument: Under Section 27(3A) of the Maharashtra Co‑operative Societies Act, 1960, a member becomes entitled to vote only after two years from enrolment; therefore enrolment must have been on or before 21‑03‑2024. The bank’s Annual Report showed only 59 individual members as of 31‑03‑2024, while the draft voters' list had 80 names. Admission amounts were allegedly not deposited; registers recorded admission/payment on 12‑04‑2024; challan copies were claimed to be non‑genuine.
- Procedural Position: Respondent sought time to file a counter‑affidavit, arguing that the election process had already commenced and an interim order favoring petitioners would disrupt the schedule.
Final Outcome
- The Court held that the factual dispute over the date of membership completion and admission fee deposit requires detailed consideration; however, it directed that the election process shall proceed as scheduled.
- The result of the election shall remain subject to the final determination of the Special Leave Petitions.
- The matters are to be listed after four weeks.
- Respondent No. 1 is ordered to file his counter‑affidavit by that date.
Topics: Co‑operative Banking, Board Election Eligibility