• Apartment welfare association by-laws

1) the bi laws of the society were printed in 2017 jan/ feb and circulated after hue and cry by few residents:
The said bi laws circulated were not even passed in an AGM
2) In 2017 march elections were conducted based on the abv bi laws. Builder had 40 unsold flats and he voted 40 votes on people of his choice/ coutere
3) 3 builder nominee members were added as mentioned in the said bi law without any election including the builder.
4) as per the said bi law defaluters cant vote, however at the discretion of mgt committee the same can be waived. As builder has unsold flats. He was paying maintenance dues only when flat is sold. At the time of election , default was approved and builder voted.
5) the 2 year term of the committee is over. There is no mention of new date of election after term expired as they are waiting for annual accts to close in april and after audit they wanted to go for election- however they called for an EGM to approve a new lift for one block ( which provision created by builder, but not provided).the funds source is interest ftom corpus and overdue collection- is it legal to call an EGM for a large expense when the term expires.

Your valuable inputs please
Regards
Chander
Asked 6 years ago in Property Law
Religion: Hindu

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19 Answers

Hi,

You may challenge the said bylaws and other irregularities before registrar of society and to high court also.

Ganesh Singh
Advocate, New Delhi
7169 Answers
16 Consultations

It is generally 2/3 members, but the said clause might be mentioned in bylaws also.

Ganesh Singh
Advocate, New Delhi
7169 Answers
16 Consultations

1. The rules as regards election and EGM has been duly mentioned in the Bye Laws itself.

2. If the bye laws is properly adopted then you can file a civil suit and challenge the election and seek injunction on functioning of the MC.

3. If not then also you can lodge complaint with the Registrar of society and ask for adjudication of your dispute.

Act accordingly. 

Devajyoti Barman
Advocate, Kolkata
23653 Answers
537 Consultations

Yes is the answer if the bye laws so provides. 

Devajyoti Barman
Advocate, Kolkata
23653 Answers
537 Consultations

Bye laws have to be approved in AGM 

 

2) if term of MC is over fresh elections have to be called to elect new MC 

 

3) EGM ought to have been called to elect new MC and not incur further expenses 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

Builder cannot t have nominee members 

 

builder cannot have 40 votes for 40 unsold flats 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

Number of members required to call for EGM woukd be as per bye laws adopted by society 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

Immediately file a Complaint to Dy registrar to expel the committee who is doing all such illegal acts.

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

yes interest earned on corpus fund can be used for lift , painting , water treatment plant after prior approval of members in AGM / EGM 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

Dear Client,

SGM can be called by 1/5th members. Builder can have one vote, holding multiple flats dose not make any difference. Disqualified members cannot vote, committee bye laws cannot over ride state act/law.

Nominee member is not a member, he / she cannot be elected, selected, co-opted as an office bearer on managing committee. He cannot vote either in any meeting nor is he / she allowed to attend the meetings or served notices of meetings.

Misuse of corpus - absolute anarchy in society, complain to registrar to dissolve the society and take charge of management till next election held or approach co operative society court.

Yogendra Singh Rajawat
Advocate, Jaipur
23079 Answers
31 Consultations

Generally maintenance amount is utilised for the same. But if there is no money in maintenance account then by way of resolution in general meeting it can be done in exceptional circumstances

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

Hi,

The same may be utilized.

Ganesh Singh
Advocate, New Delhi
7169 Answers
16 Consultations

A EGM may be called for to deal with solving the emergency situation, but the caretaker committee cannot take any major decision neither there can be any resolution passed in this regard.

Firstly the builder has unsold flats that does not mean that he has voting rights of 40 flats and he can nominate anyone to represent the unsold flats. If there is no owner to the flats then there can be no member for those flats to represent in the association.

There is a gross irregularity going on which has not been objected by any member of the association, it should have been brought to the notice of the registrar of cooperative societies to de-recognise the society.

Even now you can make a representation to the registrar of cooperative society in this regard if your association is a registered body for remedy to this.

 

 

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

You can go through the bye laws in this regard which will contain the entire details in this regard.

 

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

In my opinion the act of builder to nominate his own people to represent the meeting in the association is illegal and invalid becasue it has not been sold hence there is no member  to represent the flats for explaining their problems or to pay the maintenance or even the corpus funds.

This can be represented to the registrar of coop society and get an order agaisnt the builder for his such illegal activities.

 

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

The corpus fund is maintained for major repairs and issues. If the interest amount is utilized  with the permission of the meeting by passing a resolution with majority members supporting it, then it can be utilized for the said reasons.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

The bye laws which have been in force are illegal and it is an arbitrary act of the builder in  connivance with certain members and therefore a complaint against the builder and these persons must be filed in the sub registrar of cooperative societies.

A criminal complaint against the builder should also be filed in case he tries to intimidate you.

Regards 

Rahul Mishra
Advocate, Lucknow
14114 Answers
65 Consultations

Dear Sir,

An apartment owners association can be registered under the society act or aFlat Owners Act. An apartment association must consist of at least 10 people, over 18 years of age. All the owners are obliged to pay monthly assessments imposed by the association and abide by the rules of conduct.

The following information may kindly be read:

The by-laws for an apartment society

What is a by-law in an Apartment Society?

By-laws are the guidelines, which have provisions relating to the affairs of the apartment association. It refers to a local/private law made by an organisation for its own government.

The role of by-laws:

Each apartment association will have an apartment bye- law which contains certain details like the name of the association, the address, the date of formation, jurisdiction aspects and so on. The bye-laws contain various particulars which relate to the business hours of the association along with the objects and activities of the association.

The importance of by-laws:

Bye-laws are required by the managing committee of an Apartment Owners Association (or Residents Welfare Association) to ensure proper maintenance of the apartment complex and to resolve the issues that the residents face in a timely and effective manner. Solving the issues is not easy. It is quite a difficult task to convince the society to agree to the chosen rules and regulations. All of the related issues are solved through a set of rules known as the bye-laws. Every apartment complex adopts the bye-laws from the moment it is registered. The bye-laws govern the day-to-day functioning of the apartment complex and it is considered as the constitution of an apartment complex.

An apartment by-law will include:

  • An apartment owners association can be registered under the society act or a Flat Owners Act.
  • An apartment association must consist of at least 10 people, over 18 years of age.
  • All the owners are obliged to pay monthly assessments imposed by the association and abide by the rules of conduct.
  • The registration of an association involves the drafting of memorandum and bye-laws.
  • The memorandum shall contain the name of the association and the objects of the association apart from the names, addresses and occupations of the members of the committee which is the governing body.
  • The names of persons or officers who can sue or be sued on behalf of the association.
  • Particulars of the person or officer who can give directions with regard to the business of the association.
  • It is mandatory that the bye-laws should have details about the enrollment of members, qualification for membership, restrictions and other conditions along with the entrance fee.
  • The deadline date for the payments and the fee.
  • A list of delayed payments and penalties.
  • Rules about eviction of members and the circumstances under which members can be evicted along with the particulars of rights, obligations and privileges of the members.
  • The bye-laws should have the particulars relating to the manner in which the business of the association has to be carried out.
  • A list of qualifications of members to hold office, the term and other conditions for appointment/reappointment should be mentioned.

    • Every apartment owners association shall make own bye-laws at its first meeting for the administration of the affairs in relation to the apartments and the property relating thereto.
    • People who have purchased apartments and executed a deed of apartment shall automatically be the members of the association and will pay the membership fee. Each apartment owner shall receive a copy of the bye-laws.
    • The affairs of the association shall be governed by a board and elected by the members by simple majority in the general body meeting.
    • The principal office bearer of the association shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected by and from the board. The board may appoint an Assistant Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer.
    • One third of the members of the board retire annually.
    • The office bearers shall hold office until their successors have been elected and hold their first meeting.
    • The first meeting of a newly elected board shall be held within ten days of election.
    • The administration of every property shall be governed by bye-laws, a true copy of which shall be annexed to the declaration.

How can one make a model By-law?

  • Make a draft or model bye-law for the association.
  • Getting it approved from the general body.
  • Proceed for the registration of the association.
  • On successful registration of association bye-law becomes effective for association.

Why does an apartment association need a by-law?

  • The primary responsibility of the managing committee is to ensure proper maintenance of the apartment complex and to resolve related issues which residents face.
  • Convincing the members to act in the interest of the society is no less a challenge either as almost every resident is aware of their rights but few accept their responsibilities.
  • They are needed for the smooth functioning of a society and many consider them to be the constitution of an apartment complex.
  • They are critical for the efficient working of a society and are mandatory for an Apartment Complex Association.

Amending by-laws:

  • Bye-laws may be amended by the association in a duly constituted meeting. An amended bye-law will be effective if it is approved by the owners representing at least two-third of the total number of units in the building.
  • A modified or an amended bye-law shall be valid only if an amendment to the declaration is made.

Procedure for amending a by-law:

  • Conduct a general meeting on an annual basis.
  • A resolution will be passed by a majority of the 3/4th of the members who are present.
  • The two-third of members should not be less than one-third of the total members in the society.
  • Every change in the memorandum of the associationas approved shall be filed with the registrar within 30 days. Such change shall not have effect until it has been registered.
  • The committee should also submit four copies of the existing bye-laws along with the resolutions passed by the annual general meeting.
  • The registrar will register the amendment upon satisfaction that the amendment does not contravene any act or rules that guide the functioning of a co-operative society.
  • The Registrar will issue a certificate of registration along with the certified copy of the amendment.

By-laws for keeping pets

According to the Constitution of India, an apartment should not ban the keeping of animals in an apartment, with Section 11 (3) mentioning about the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960. It is also against article 51 A (g) of the Indian Constitution wherein, it is the duty of every citizen to have compassion towards animals, living creatures and improve the natural environment.

 

Netravathi Kalaskar
Advocate, Bengaluru
4951 Answers
27 Consultations

  1. As per the information mentioned in the present query, makes it clear that whatever have been happening in the society is totally arbitrary and against the principle of justice and equality.
  2. You should challenge the formation of the above committee before the society court.
  3. No, the flats which are vacant, no body can vote on behalf of them, if somebody is doing it then it is not legal.
  4. In fact for speedy remedy, you can approach the civil court of law and restrain the committee to work further and pray for fair election and votes as per the law mentioned in the society law.

Sanjay Baniwal
Advocate, South Delhi
5477 Answers
13 Consultations

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