/2022 INSC 0958/
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8039 OF 2022
Institute of Company Secretaries of India       …Appellant 
Versus
Biman Debnath & Ors.     …Respondents
With
CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 8040­41 OF 2022
Anil Kumar Dubey          …Appellant 
Versus
Biman Debnath & Ors.     …Respondents
J U D G M E N T
M.R. SHAH, J.
1. Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment  and order  dated 13.04.2022 passed by the  High  Court
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of Judicature at Calcutta in MAT No.213 of 2022 and MAT 219 of
2022 with CAN 1 of 2022 by which the High Court has dismissed
the   said   appeal   and   has   confirmed   the   judgment   and   order
passed   by   the   learned   Single   Judge   by   which   the   learned   Single
Judge allowed the writ petition bearing No.WPA 1367 of 2022 by
quashing and setting aside the election of the office bearers of the
Regional   Council   for   the   year   2022   held   in   the   316 th
  Meeting   of
Eastern   India   Regional   Council   of   the   Institute   of   Company
Secretaries of India, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
has preferred the present appeal. 
2. Notice dated 20.12.2021 was issued for elections to be held
on 27.12.2021 for the Eastern India Regional Council (hereinafter
referred to as ‘EIRC’) of Institute of Company Secretaries of India
(hereinafter referred to as ‘ICSI’) to take effect from 19.01.2022 for
the period of one year.   The meeting of the Regional Council was
required   to   be   chaired   by   the   Chairman,   EIRC.     However,   before
the   actual   date   of   election   on   27.12.2021,   the   Chairman,   EIRC
was disqualified to hold his office on 22.12.2021.  Thus, the office
of   the   Chairman   fell   vacant   in   terms   of   Regulation   117(2)   of   the
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Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982 (hereinafter referred to as
“Regulations   1982’).     As   the   post   of   Chairman   fell   vacant,   the
same   was   required   to   be   filled   in   for   the   remaining   period   in
terms of Regulation 119(2).   The contesting respondent herein as
a Vice Chairman was allowed to chair the meeting for the limited
purpose   of   election   to   the   post   of   Chairman   for   the   remaining
period   of   current   year   ending   on   18.01.2022   in   terms   of
Regulation   119(2).     The   contesting   respondent   no.1   herein   as   a
Vice­Chairman   was   allowed   to   chair   the   meeting   for   the   limited
purpose   of   election   to   the   post   of   Chairman   for   the   remaining
period   of   the   current   year   ending   on   18.01.2022   in   terms   of
Regulation 119(2).  It appears that the contesting respondent no.1
was   disrupting   the   meeting,   the   remaining   members   decided   to
proceed   with   the   agenda   item   i.e.   electing   the   chairman   for   the
remaining period and for that purpose appointed respondent no.3
–   Mr.   Anil   Kumar   Dubey   to   chair   the   said   item.     That   thereafter
elections   took   place   and   the   respondent   no.3   –   Mr.   Anil   Kumar
Dubey was duly elected as Chairman for the remaining period.
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2.1 He   was   elected   for   the   period   19.01.2022   to   18.01.2023.
The   Respondent   no.1   who   did   not   participate   in   the   election
and/or   contest   filed   the   writ   petition   before   the   learned   Single
Judge   contending   inter   alia   that   the   meeting   dated   27.12.2021
chaired by Respondent no.3 was illegal.  According to Respondent
no.1,   in   absence   of   the   Chairman,   the   Vice­Chairman   would
become the Chairman and therefore the meeting was required to
be   chaired   by   him.     However,   it   was   the   case   on   behalf   of   the
Institute   and   the   contesting   original   respondents   that   meeting
was   convened   legally   and   the   Chairman   was   elected   for   the
remaining   period   as   per   Regulation   119(2)   of   the   Regulations,
1982.  It was the specific case on behalf of the contesting original
respondents   that   it   was   a   case   of   vacation   of   office   and   not   the
absence   of   an   office   bearer   for   a   particular   period   of   time.     The
learned   Single   Judge   allowed   the   writ   petition   and   set   aside   the
elections   of   the   office   bearers   elected   in   the   meeting   held   on
27.12.2021   mainly   on   the   ground   that   the   meeting   was   not
chaired   by   the   Vice­Chairman   who   in   absence   of   the   Chairman
was  required to  conduct  and/or   chair  the  meeting   as Chairman.
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The Judgment and Order passed by the learned Single Judge has
been   confirmed   by   the   impugned   judgment   and   order   of   the
Division   Bench   of  the   High   Court.    Hence,   the  present   appeal  at
the instance of the ICSI.
3. We   have   heard   Shri   Sanjiv   Sen,   learned   Senior   Advocate
appearing   on   behalf   of   the   appellant   and   Shri   Ritin   Rai,   learned
Senior Advocate appearing on behalf of the contesting respondent
no.1.     We   have   gone   through   the   impugned   judgment   and   order
passed by the learned Single Judge as well as the Division Bench
of the High Court.
4. From   the   judgment  and  order   passed  by   the   learned  Single
Judge   confirmed   by   the   Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court   it
appears that the learned Single Judge quashed and set aside the
election   of   the   office   bearers   of   the  EIRC   on   the   ground   that   the
meeting was not presided over by the Vice­Chairman (Respondent
no.1   herein).     Therefore,   the   short   question   which   is   posed   for
consideration   is   as   to   whether   the   meeting   i.e.   21.07.2021   was
presided   over   by   the   person   duly   elected   as   Chairman   for   the
remaining period?
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4.1 While   considering   the   aforesaid   issue   relevant   provisions   of
the   Regulations   1982   are   required   to   be   referred   to   namely
Regulations 92, 117 & 119 which are as under:
“92.   Chairman   of   the   Council.­   At   all   meetings   of   the
Council,   the   President,   and   in   his   absence   the   Vice­
President shall be the Chairman; in the absence of both,
the members present shall elect one of the their number
to be the Chairman of meeting. 
Provided   that,   at   the   first   meeting   of   any   Council   the
President   of   the   outgoing   Council,   or   in   his   absence   its
Vice­President,   shall   act   as   the   Chairman   until   such
time   a  President   is   elected   under   the   provisions   of   sub­
section (1) of section 12. 
Provided   further   that   in   the   absence   of   both   the
President and the Vice president of the outgoing Council
the members of the Council present shall elect one of the
members   to   be   the   Chairman   of   the   meeting   until   such
time   a  President   is   elected   under   the   provisions   of   sub­
section (1) of section 12.”
***
“117.   Vacancies.­   (1)   A   member   of   a   Regional   Council
may at any time resign his membership by writing under
his   hand   addressed   to   the   Chairman   of   the   Regional
Council   and   the   seat   of   such   member   shall   become
vacant   when   such   resignation   is   notified   in   the   Journal
or   when   the   Regional   Council   next   meets,   whichever   is
earlier. 
(2)   An   elected   member   of   a   Regional   Council   who   has
been   found   guilty   of   any   professional   or   other
misconduct   and   awarded   penalty   of   fine   or   does   not
attend   three   consecutive   meetings   of   the   Regional
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Council or Committee thereof, unless he applies for leave
of absence in writing and it is granted for each meeting,
shall   be   deemed   to   have   vacated   office   from   the   date   of
the   order   or   at   the   conclusion   of   the   third   meeting
unless he applies for leave of absence in writing and it is
granted for each meeting.
(3)   Any   vacancy   caused   by   the   resignation,   death   or
removal   from   the   Register   of   an   elected   member   of   the
Regional   Council   may   be   fi   by   the   Regional   Council   by
co­option   of   another   member   entitled   to   vote   in   and
stand   for   election   to   the   Regional   Council   with   the
approval of the President. 
(4)   If   a   member   of   the   Regional   Council   [including   a
member   of   the   Council   becoming   a   member   of   the
Regional Council under clause (a) of sub­regulation (2) of
Regulation   111]   changes   his   professional   address   from
the regional constituency to which he belonged to at the
time   of   election   or   co­option,   as   the   case   may   be,   to
another regional constituency, such member shall cease
to   be   member   of   that   Regional   Council   from   that   date.
The   vacancy   so   caused   may   be   filled   by   the   Regional
Council   by   co­option   of   another   member   in   the   same
manner as provided in sub­regulation (3). 
(5) In  the case of a member  of a Regional  Council being
elected   to   the   Council,   without   prejudice   to   his   right   to
be represented on the Regional Council under clause (a)
of sub­regulation (2) of Regulation 111, he shall cease to
be   an   elected   member   of   the   Regional   Council   and   the
vacancy   thus   caused   may   be   filled   up   by   co­options   by
the   Regional   Council   in   the   manner   set   out   in   sub­
regulation (3). (6) A co­opted member shall hold office as
a   member   of   the   Regional   Council   for   the   duration   of
office of that Regional Council.” 
***
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“ 119.   Proceedings   of   the   Regional   Council .­   (1)   One­
third of the members of the Regional Council for the time
being shall constitute the quorum. 
(2) Every Regional Council shall at its first meeting held
after   its   constitution   and   in   subsequent   years   at   a
meeting to be held in December of  every  year elect from
amongst   its   members   a   Chairman,   a   Vice­Chairman,   a
Secretary   and   a   Treasurer   thereof   to   hold   office   for   a
period   commencing   from   the   date   of   its   first   meeting
after constitution or from 1st January of the subsequent
year   as   the   case   may   be,   till   the   31st   December   of   that
year and so often as any of those offices become vacant,
the   Regional   Council   shall   elect   another   person   from
amongst its members to hold the office for the remaining
period of a year.
Provided   that   the   retiring   office   bearers   shall   be   eligible
for   re­election   to   any   of   the   offices   of   the   Regional
Council   if   they   continue   to   be   members   of   the   Regional
Council. 
(3)   The   first   meeting   of   the   Regional   Council   referred   to
in sub­regulation 
(2)   shall   be   called   and   held   within   one   month   from   the
date of its constitution 70[* * * * * *]. 
(4) If within half an hour from the time appointed for the
said   first   meeting   of   the   Regional   Council   referred   to
hereinbefore,   a   quorum   as   mentioned   in   sub­regulation
(1)   above   is   not   present,   the   said   first   meeting   shall
notwithstanding   anything   contained   in   that   Regulation
stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the
same   time   and   place   and   at   such   adjourned   meeting   of
the   Regional   Council,   the   member   or   members   present,
shall   constitute   the   quorum   and   shall   have   power   to
transact all the business which could properly have been
transacted at the original meeting.” 
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4.2 Regulation 117 deals with the vacancies.   As per Regulation
117(2)   an   elected   member   of   Regional   Council   who   has   been
found   guilty   of   any   professional   or   other   misconduct…….,   shall
be   deemed   to   have   vacated   office   from   the   date   of   the   order.     In
the   present   case   the   then   Chairman,   EIRC   was   disqualified   to
hold his office on 22.12.2021.  Therefore, it was a case of vacation
of office of the Chairman.  
4.3 Regulation   119   deals   with   the   Proceedings   of   the   Regional
Council.  As per Regulation 119(2) every Regional Council shall at
its   first   meeting   held   after   its   constitution   and   in   subsequent
years at a meeting to be held in December of every year elect from
amongst its members a Chairman, a Vice­Chairman, a Secretary
and   a   Treasurer   thereof   to   hold   office   for   a   period   commencing
from the date of its first after constitution or from 1 st
  January of
the subsequent year as the case may be till the 31 st
  December of
that  year and so often as any of those offices become  vacant , the
Regional   Council   shall   elect   another   person   from   amongst   its
members   to   hold   the   office   for   the   remaining   period   of   a   year.
Thus,   as   the   office   of   the   Chairman   fell   vacant   due   to   its
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disqualification   any   person   from   amongst   its   members   was
required   to   be   elected   as   Chairman   and/or   to   hold   the   office   of
the Chairman for the remaining period.   Therefore, in exercise of
powers   under   Regulation   119(2)   of   the   Regulations,   1982,
Respondent   No.3   ­   Anil   Kumar   Dubey   was   elected   as   the
Chairman for the remaining period who presided over the meeting
dated 27.12.2021.
4.4 However,   it   was   the   case   on   behalf   of   Respondent   no.1
which   came   to   be   accepted   by   the   learned   Single   Judge   and   the
Division   Bench   of  the   High   Court  that   being   a  Vice  Chairman,  a
meeting   was   required   to   be   chaired/presided   over   by   him   in
absence   of   the   Chairman.     Heavy   reliance   was   placed   on
Regulation   92(2).     On   fair   reading   of   Regulation   92(2)   read   with
Regulation   117(2),   we   are   of   the   opinion   that   Regulation   92(2)
shall not be applicable at all.  Regulation 92(2) shall be applicable
only   in   a   case   of   absence   and   not   in   a   case   where   the   post   of
Chairman   and/or   office   bearer   has   fallen   vacant.     There   is   a
distinction   between   the   absence   and   the   post   fallen   vacant.
Regulation   92(2)   shall   be   applicable   in   a   case   where   the
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Chairman and/or the office bearer though is not disqualified but
is absent for some reason.   Regulation 117(2) shall be applicable
in   a   case   where   the  elected  member   of  the   Regional   Council  has
been  disqualified  on  he being  found guilty  of  any  professional  or
other misconduct and awarded penalty of fine.  Therefore, in case
of   a   vacation   of   office   as   per   Regulation   117(2),   such   post   fallen
vacant   is   required   to   be   filled   in   by   election   by   electing   another
person   from   amongst   its   members   to   hold   the   office   for   the
remaining period of a year (Regulation 119(2)).  In that view of the
matter   both,   the   learned   Single   Judge   as   well   as   the   Division
Bench   of   the   High   Court   have   seriously   erred   in   misinterpreting
Regulation 92(2) and Regulation 117 read with Regulation 119(2).
Both,   the   learned   Single   Judge   as   well   as   the   Division   Bench   of
the  High Court  have not  appreciated the  distinction  between  the
vacation   of   office   under   Regulation   117(2)   of   the   Regulation   and
the   absence   of   an   office   bearer   under   Regulation   92.     Under   the
circumstances   both,   the   learned   Single   Judge   as   well   as   the
Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court   have   seriously   erred   in
quashing and setting aside the election of the office bearers of the
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EIRC   of   ICSI   held   in   the   meeting   held   on   27.12.2021   on   the
ground   that   the   meeting   was   not   presided   over   by   the   Vice
Chairman (Respondent no.1 herein).
5. Now   so   far   as   the   submission   made   by   Shri   Ritin   Rai,
learned   Senior   Advocate   appearing   on   behalf   of   the   contesting
respondent   no.1   that   even   otherwise   the   election   was   not   held
legally   and   there   was   irregularity   in   conducting   the
election/meeting   is   concerned,   at   the   outset   it   is   required   to   be
noted   that   there   were   disputed   questions   of   fact   on   whether   the
meeting and/or election was irregularly conducted or not.  As per
Regulation   114(4)   whether   any   dispute   arises   regarding   any
election to a Regional Council, the matter may be referred by the
candidate   concerned   within   30   days   from   the   date   of   the
declaration  of the result of  the  election, to the  President  and the
decision   shall   be   final.     Under   the   circumstances,   in   view   of
Regulation 114(4) of the Regulations, the High Court ought not to
have   entertained   the   writ   petition   challenging   the   validity   of   the
election.    Even  otherwise,  it  is  required to  be noted  that   even  as
per   Regulation   114(4),   the   election   can   be   challenged   by   the
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candidate   concerned.     In   the   present   case   respondent   no.1   who
challenged   the  election   of   the  office   bearers   did   not   even   contest
the   election.     Under   the   circumstances   the   High   Court   erred   in
entertaining   the   writ   petition   challenging   the   election   at   the
instance   of   the   respondent   no.1   who   even   did   not   contest   the
election of the office bearers.  
6. In view of the above and for the reason stated above present
appeals   succeed.     The   impugned   judgment   and   order   passed   by
the Division Bench of the High Court as well as the learned Single
Judge quashing and setting aside the election of the office bearers
of   the   EIRC   of   the   ICSI   held   on   27.12.2021   are   hereby   quashed
and   set   aside.     The   original   writ   petitions   stand   dismissed.
Present appeals are accordingly allowed.  No costs.
………………………………….J.
 [M.R. SHAH]
NEW DELHI; ………………………………….J.
NOVEMBER 7, 2022  [M.M. SUNDRESH]
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