After amendment
to cooperative housing society Act, lot of people asked me several questions. Most
of the questions were related to their own society. From the questions they asked,
it was clear that most of them wanted to
settle score with somebody. There are always some issues in the every
cooperative housing society. Many society
members behave like gladiators. They treat committee members as personal
servants. As well, some committee members also behave as if society is their personal kingdom. Allegations of
misbehaviour, malpractices and corruption on committee members are common
everywhere.
However, on the
background of amendments in co-operative housing society act (CHS), as per 97th
ammendment to the constitution of India. Henceforth
handling CHS is going to be more difficult. As per new amendments, there is
provision of penalizing committee members and also there is a provision of cessation of membership on some
default. General body of the society may prescribe penalties to the member for
different breaches of the byelaws of the society. In addition, there are
provisions of penalty to the committee members for consistent defaults, acting
against the interest of the institution, deadlock in the board of directors,
not ordering elections within specified time, corruption, irregularities in
duty, deliberately giving false information, disobeying orders of authorities
etc etc.
Most important
fact is, as the real estate scenario is
changing fast and property rates are going high. There is lot of
possibility of misuse of provisions from both the sides. Committee members may use their power to harass society members, As well;
society members may also threaten committee members on pity issues. This is
not a forecast, such incidences are happening in the cities already.
However, it is
not the case that intention behind every such incidence is to grab the property
or to teach lesson to committee members. Many times the concerned people are
not aware of where to peruse his/her case. Hence, some times, for issues like irregular
supply of water from local authority people hold committee members responsible.
That means they choose wrong battleground
to fight. However, what is the solution? I do not know how much it will be
effective but, I guess frequent awareness campaigns in every housing society
for member's rights and duties may reduce such menace.
