HC orders action against TNGO Housing Society management

The High Court on Friday directed the state government to initiate action against the managing committee of the Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers’ Mutually Aided Cooperative Housing Society Limited headed by TNGO union president K Swamy Goud who were found responsible for several commissions and omissions which included large-scale irregularities in allotment of plots and financial irregularities.

 The petitioner, TNGO Colony Welfare Association represented by its president G Venkateshwarlu, requested the court to direct the government to prevent Swamy Goud from alienating any house-site in the 160- acre land at Gopanapalle village in Ranga Reddy district.

 It averred that Swamy Goud had indulged in several commissions and omissions in respect of allotment of plots, development of layouts, etc.

 Despite representation no action was taken by the government against the office-bearers concerned, it alleged.

 Justice CV Nagarjuna Reddy, while disposing of a contempt application by the Telangana NGO Colony Welfare Association, noted that if the government failed to take action within one month from Friday, the petitioners shall be free to avail appropriate legal remedies available to them in law He hoped that the government would issue necessary instructions to the competent authority to initiate action in all respects under the provisions of the Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies (MACS) Act, including prosecution under Section 38 of the Act, against those who were found responsible in the inquiry report submitted by the district cooperative officer, Hyderabad.

 “From the discussion undertaken I am of the opinion that the undertaking given by chief secretary Pankaj Dwivedi in his affidavits in the contempt case that appropriate action in accordance with law would be taken, is not fully complied with.

 However, I am inclined to give a benefit of doubt to the respondent as non-compliance with the said undertaking is obviously on account of incorrect appreciation of the scope of the provisions of Sections 29 and 38 of the MACS Act.

 Therefore, this court hopes that the government will initiate action in all respects under the provisions of the MACS Act against those responsible for mismanagement of the housing society and various illegal acts,” the judge said in his order.