Registrar Confirms Five-Year Ban On Green Acres Office Bearers
Marol housing society placed under authorised officer’s control after repeated violations
In a decisive ruling, the Divisional Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Mumbai, has upheld a five-year disqualification of four office bearers of the Green Acres Co-operative Housing Society, Marol, citing repeated breaches of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (MCS) Act, 1960.
The order, delivered by Registrar Shahaji Patil, confirms the earlier directives issued on October 18 and 30, 2023, by the Deputy Registrar. The banned members include Chairman Vinod Paritkar, Secretary Sudhir Kasale, Treasurer Nitiesh Karmaran, and another committee member. Their appeal failed to convince the higher authority, leaving the original disqualification intact.
Violations in governance
The case was driven by persistent complaints from society member Alex Noronha, who flagged several instances of non-compliance. The committee was found guilty of failing to table mandatory agenda items—including annual reports, audit rectification reports, and budget estimates—during the 2019 and 2022 Annual General Meetings (AGMs). These omissions amounted to a direct violation of Section 75 of the MCS Act, which mandates disclosure and accountability.
Despite producing ‘B’-graded audited accounts for two consecutive years, the office bearers ignored repeated warnings, including disqualification notices from 2020. They also failed to comply with Section 79A directives concerning the management of mobile tower revenues. Registrar Patil, in his order, noted that the appellants had “failed to provide a satisfactory explanation” and that the ruling was based on “verified facts and due process.”
Appointment of authorised officer
With the disqualifications leaving the governing committee below statutory quorum, the Registrar invoked Section 77(A) of the MCS Act to appoint an authorised officer. This officer will oversee the day-to-day affairs of Green Acres until a fresh committee is elected, ensuring compliance and continuity of governance.
Broader impact on housing societies
Legal experts say the ruling could serve as a precedent for other societies across Mumbai. Housing bodies that fail to maintain statutory transparency—especially in AGMs and financial matters—now risk similar regulatory crackdowns.
For residents of Green Acres, the move offers hope of better management and accountability, while also signalling the government’s intent to tighten enforcement across Mumbai’s housing sector.
