#de-registration

The Bombay High Court ruled that a cooperative society can be deregistered under Section 21A only if its original registration was obtained through a material misrepresentation, and not merely for construction irregularities discovered later. This narrows the scope of de-registration, protecting societies from punitive cancellation for compliance lapses after registration.

Bombay High Court quashed a de-registration order under Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, for failing to provide a hearing. The ruling reinforces that administrative actions affecting civil rights must comply with principles of natural justice, impacting trusts and societies facing similar procedural lapses.

Bombay HC clarifies that de-registration under Section 21-A of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act mandates evidence of fraud during registration, not merely title disputes, pending FIRs, or procedural lapses. The ruling restores the society's registration, reinforcing that fraud must be proven at the inception stage for de-registration to be valid.

Bombay High Court holds that de-registered housing societies cannot be parties to pending proceedings; case must be remanded for substitution of legal representative.