The Supreme Court came down heavily on bureaucrats’ wives for enjoying posts in societies functioning within the administrative jurisdictions of their husbands. The top court described such practices as a product of colonial mindset, to be discarded forthwith.
The critical remark was given by a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan after finding the vindictive action indirectly taken by the district magistrate of Bulandshahr whose wife occupied the office of the Zila Mahila Samiti president at Bulandshahr.
It had been a custom since 1957 to make the wife of the officiating district magistrate or his nominee as Samiti president. But the general body of the Samiti amended the bylaws and decided not to give its presidency to the DM’s wife in Jan 2020. This change was duly approved by the deputy registrar of societies. After election to all posts, including the president, the deputy registrar declared the amendments illegal citing an inquiry report of the City Magistrate. The body moved Allahabad HC, which dismissed its plea. So the matter finally reached the apex court.
SC took umbrage and asked, “If she wants to be the president of the Samiti, she should join politics and contest elections.” Additional Solicitor General K M Natraj told SC that UP govt wanted to get rid of this colonial mindset.
The top court said it would make it mandatory for all societies, whether aided or not aided by the govt, to mandatorily follow the model bylaws, failing which they would be declared non-entities under the law. The bench asked to prepare the draft of model bylaws and submit it before it within six weeks.
