Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court has set aside the order appointing the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Pali, to take over the management of the Vishwakarma Jangid Samaj Seva Samiti, observing that the disputed question of who was validly elected to run the society cannot be decided at the interim stage.
Justice Farjand Ali dealt with a petition concerning a dispute over the management of the society. The controversy arose after rival claims were raised over the election of its office-bearers, with Ramchandra Pidwa’s election having been recorded by the authorities.
During the proceedings, the ADM, Pali had been placed in charge of the society’s affairs, including its records, registers, keys and bank accounts. The arrangement was intended to ensure that the society’s affairs were not controlled by either of the rival groups while the dispute remained pending.
Pidwa challenged the arrangement before the High Court, contending that the authorities had no justification to remove the elected management and hand over the society to the ADM.
The High Court held that the core dispute of which group was legally elected and entitled to manage the society requires a proper examination of the evidence and cannot be conclusively decided through an interim order.
The Court, therefore, set aside the order appointing the ADM, Pali to manage the society. As a result, Ramchandra Pidwa, whose election had been recorded by the authorities, will continue to manage the society for the time being.
The Court clarified that this arrangement is only interim and will not amount to a final decision on the validity of the election.
The final question as to who is legally entitled to run the Vishwakarma Jangid Samaj Seva Samiti will be decided in the main proceedings