They received a notice from the Registrar of Societies last week about mandatory poll duties
A section of zonal registrars of co-operative societies, on the prodding of the state election commission, had issued letters last week to some housing societies warning that action would be taken against them if they fail to convene a special general meeting by February 20 to create awareness about the civic elections. These housing societies, spread across the city, are now scrambling to fulfil that obligation.
While a number of them said they have planned to hold meetings on Sunday to escape action being taken against them, others have slammed the government for what they called a ‘short notice period’ given to them.
A government resolution (GR) on the issue was released on October 13, 2016. It states that the chairman and secretary of a housing society should volunteer at poll booths and ensure that people eligible for voting are registered as voters, and that a special general meeting should be held to encourage voters to step out in large numbers.
The notice issued by the Registrar of Societies last week had stated that if, during an audit, it came to light that no meeting was held by the societies, action would be taken against them.
However, housing societies have said that the Registrar of Societies had given them no information about this GR till the notices issued earlier this month. Many housing societies said they had not received any notices at all, but were holding a meeting based on news reports.
“We did not even get any notice or circular from the government. I got to know through an advocate friend of mine that the government’s decision is nearly six months old. Still, they did not send us any notice or circular. Since there is not much time, we simply decided to have a meeting on Sunday. We have hurriedly issued letters to all our members so that they attend the meeting tomorrow and vote during the elections,” said Harish Pandey, secretary, Prithvi Palace CHS, Dahisar. His society has 96 flats with over 250 voters.
“In Mumbai, there are around 35,000 housing societies with around 17.5 lakh flats and nearly 70 lakh voters in them,” said Ramesh Prabhu, chairman, Maharashtra Society Welfare Association, a body of housing societies.
He added, “The directions of the registrar are obligatory and a chairman could get dismissed, penalised or disqualified. But the purpose with which the government wanted to do this may not be served. As a last-minute move, it has only created confusion.”
Atlanta Cooperative Housing Society, also in Dahisar, will also hold a meeting on Sunday. “We will be making members aware about casting their vote and ensure that they make our area better. It is their responsibility to caste their vote. If any audit happens, we can show on record that we had held a meeting,”said David Soosay, the chairman of the society with 56 flats.
At the other end of the city, too, society members said that they did not receive any notice, but were conducting the meeting anyway. “None of the buildings on our road or in the area have received any notice. Our society is going by news reports. We are holding our meeting on Sunday and we will see what the secretary discusses. Normally, 15 days’ notice is given for such meetings. But we were informed a day earlier about this one,” said Gautam Watsa, a member of Olympus CHS in Altamout Road, which has 74 flats.
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