Housing society can impose fine if you skip society meets

A circular issued by cooperative commissioner Rajgopal Deora allows a co-operative housing society to impose fines on members who remain absent from the annual general body meeting or elections for the managing committee. The circular comes in the wake of directions form the state Lok Ayukta, which has been flooded with complaints against administrators and managing committee of cooperative housing societies. Though the circular does not mention any upper limit for the fine, it clearly states that a reasonable amount can be collected as penalty.

The circular also states that a three-member committee, headed either by the housing society secretary or chairman, be formed for instant redressal of residents’ complaints. The circular further states that the panel must attend to a complaint within 15 days of its receipt. A member can approach the registrar if the panel fails to resolve his/her complaint within the stipulated time. According to the circular, the committee must comprise a female resident. Two of the three residents on the grievance-redressal committee should not members of the managing committee, but must be elected by general body.

Advocate Vinod Sampat, president of Co-operative Societies Residents, Users and Welfare Association, said, “The circular can be challenged in a court of law as it does not mention under which Section of the Co-operative Societies Act it has been issued. Moreover, a member can create nuisance during the meeting if he is forced to attend it.’’

Prakash Paddikal, president of the Hillside Residents’ Welfare Association, said, “Hardly 15% of the members attend society meetings. Large-scale participation by members would go a long way in improving the way societies function.”