Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Bombay HC Sets Aside Order on Asiatic Society Polls Membership
Imagine a club is having an election for its leaders.
The election rules said only people who were members by a certain date could vote.
But then, an official made a new decision that confused things and didn't let some people who joined the club very recently vote, even though they were members.
Some of these new members went to a high court.
The high court looked at the rules and said the official's decision was wrong and unfair.
So, the court canceled that specific decision.
However, the court decided not to stop the election itself because it's up to the election organizer to figure out who can vote now.
The Bombay High Court nullified an Assistant Charity Commissioner's order concerning the Asiatic Society's election membership list.
The Assistant Charity Commissioner had directed the use of a membership list finalized on September 27 and scrutinized on October 3.
Life and resident members admitted around October 15 challenged the October 31 decision, which excluded them from voting in the November 8 elections.
The High Court ruled that the Assistant Charity Commissioner's order violated Section 41A of the Maharashtra Public Trust Act.
The court did not interfere with the upcoming election schedule but left the decision on the final voters' list to the returning officer.
- Who
- Bombay High Court, Assistant Charity Commissioner, life members and resident members of the Asiatic Society
- What
- The Bombay High Court set aside an order by the Assistant Charity Commissioner regarding the membership list for the Asiatic Society's managing committee elections.
- When
- Thursday (regarding the High Court's decision), November 8 (election date), September 27 (AGM), October 3 (scrutiny), October 15 (new members admitted), October 31 (Assistant Charity Commissioner's decision)
- Where
- Bombay High Court
- Why
- The High Court found the Assistant Charity Commissioner's order, which directed the use of a membership list finalized in September and scrutinized in October, to be against Section 41A of the Maharashtra Public Trust Act. This decision impacted members admitted around October 15 who were subsequently excluded from voting.
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Election Date
- November 8
- Challenged Order Date
- October 31
- Key Act
- Maharashtra Public Trust Act, 1950