Disputes

(1) If any dispute touching the constitution of the committee or the management or the business of a registered society (other than a dispute regarding disciplinary action taken by the society or its committee against a paid servant of the society) arises.-

(a) among members, past members and persons claiming through members, past members and deceased members; or

(b) between a member, past member or person claiming through a member, past member or deceased member and the society, its committee or any officer, agent or servant of the society; or

(c) between the society or its committee and any past committee, any officer, agents or servants, or any past officer, past agent or past servant, or the nominee, heirs or legal representatives of any deceased officer, deceased agent, or deceased servant of the society; or

(d) between the society and any other registered society;

such dispute shall be referred to the Registrar for decision.

Explanation: For the purposes of this section, a dispute shall include.-

(i) a claim by a registered society for any debt or demand due to it from a member, past member or the nominee, heir or legal representative of a deceased member whether such debt or demand be admitted or not; and

(ii) a claim by a registered society against a member, past member or the nominee heir or legal representative of a deceased member for the delivery of a possession to the society of land or other immovable property resumed by it for breach of the conditions of assignment or allotment of such land or other immovable property:

Provided that no dispute relating to, or in connection with, any election to a committee shall be referred under this sub-section till the date of the declaration of the result of such election.

(2) The Registrar may, on receipt of such reference.-

(a) decide the dispute himself or transfer it for disposal to any person subordinate to and empowered by him; or

(b) subject to such rules as may be prescribed, refer it for disposal to an arbitrator or arbitrators.