Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has held that a housing society’s managing committee ceases to exist in law once it loses quorum, and the Registrar is justified in dissolving such a body to ensure smooth administration.

Justice Amit Bokar dismissed a petition filed by members of the Purshottam Bhagwan Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., Jeevan Jyot, in Khar West and directed that fresh elections be conducted within two weeks to restore “democratic functioning”.

The court upheld the orders passed by the district deputy registrar, divisional joint registrar, and the minister for co-operation under Section 77A of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (MCS Act). The authorities had successively confirmed the dissolution of the society’s managing committee and appointment of an administrator after the committee fell below quorum.

The society’s eight-member committee, elected in January 2022 for a five-year term, lost four members following resignations tendered between April and June 2023. The registrar, noting that the strength had fallen below the required quorum of five, dissolved the committee in November 2024 and appointed an administrator. The petitioners’ appeal and revision were dismissed in March and July 2025, respectively, leading to the present writ petition.

Senior advocate Girish Godbole, appearing for the petitioners, contended that the registrar acted without issuing a mandatory notice inviting objections and that no urgency was shown to justify dispensing with this requirement. He argued that the remaining members had co-opted two replacements.

They relied on a government resolution (GR) issued on January 3, 2024 which reduced the number of committee members to five and quorum to three for small societies. They urged that the GR should be applied retroactively to validate their actions.

Opposing the plea, Anil Sakhare, counsel for the respondents society members (some of whom had resigned from MC), argued that the 2024 GR was prospective and did not apply to committees formed earlier. He submitted that once four members resigned, the committee was reduced to four, below the quorum of five, and could not legally function or co-opt new members.

The court accepted this reasoning, observing that quorum “is not a technicality but a legal minimum ensuring collective decision-making.” It ruled that the 2024 GR brought a substantive change and could not operate retrospectively. “Accepting the petitioners’ plea would amount to rewriting history and validating what was invalid under the law then in force,” the court said.

While finding no fault in the registrar’s decision to appoint an administrator without notice in view of the management vacuum, Justice Borkar said preference should ordinarily be given to appointing members from within the society rather than outsiders.

The court dismissed the petition but directed the authorised officer currently managing the society to initiate the election process within two weeks and complete it “at the earliest” to ensure early restoration of elected governance.

“In my opinion, therefore, the proper course in the present facts is not to unsettle the appointment already made, but to ensure that elections are held without any further delay,” it said in a detailed 47-page order.

Mumbai, Thane: Residents across Thane and several parts of Mumbai are set to experience a 10 per cent reduction in water supply as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) undertakes the upgradation of electricity meters at the Pise and Panjrapur power stations. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) confirmed that the cut will be in effect from Tuesday, 7 October to Thursday, 9 October 2025.

Out of Thane’s total water supply, 85 million litres per day (MLD) comes from BMC’s sources. The ongoing electrical work is expected to impact multiple areas across Thane and Mumbai during the three-day maintenance period.

According to the Thane Municipal Corporation, the areas that will face reduced water supply include Kopri Dhobighat, Kopri Kanhaiya Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Anand Nagar, Indiranagar, Bhatwadi, Tekdi Bangla Water Tank, Gavdevi (Luiswadi) Water Tank, Balkum Pada No.1, Ambedkar Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Kajuwadi, Jijamata Nagar, Jai Bhavani Nagar, Dnyaneshwar Nagar, Ambika Nagar, Karwalo Nagar, Shivshakti Nagar, Janata Slum, Padval Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Kisan Nagar No.1, Kisan Nagar No.2, Ramchandra Nagar 1, Sainath Nagar, Namdev Wadi, Raghunath Nagar, Luiswadi, Hajuri, Pachpakhadi, and Naupada.

The civic body has appealed to residents to store enough water beforehand and use it judiciously throughout the period to avoid inconvenience. Authorities have also urged the public to cooperate while the upgrade work is completed.

The BMC announced that parts of South Mumbai and the eastern suburbs will also experience a 10 per cent water cut between October 7 and 9. The work includes upgrading 100 kilowatt (KW) electrical meters at the Pise and Panjrapur water treatment facilities in Thane. Maintenance activity will take place daily from 12.30 pm to 3 pm, which is expected to affect supply in several zones temporarily.

A Ward: Fort, Colaba, Marine Drive, Nariman Point

B Ward: Masjid Bunder, Mohd. Ali Road, Dongri, Bhendi Bazar

E Ward: Byculla, Agripada, Nagpada, Dockyard Road, Reay Road

F-South Ward: Parel, Lalbaug, Hindmata, Lower Parel

F-North Ward: Matunga, Sion

M-East Ward: Chembur East, Govandi, Mankhurd, Trombay, Cheeta Camp, Deonar Municipal Colony, Anushakti Nagar

M-West Ward: Chembur West

L Ward: Kurla East

N Ward: Vikhroli, Ghatkopar

S Ward: Bhandup, Nahur, Kanjurmarg, Vikhroli East

T Ward: Mulund

Both civic bodies have requested residents to plan their water usage carefully and avoid wastage during the maintenance period. Supply is expected to return to normal from Friday, 10 October 2025.

New Delhi, Oct 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Asia’s premier telecom and technology event, on October 8 in the national capital, Ministry of Communications said on Monday.

The four-day mega event, themed “Innovate to Transform,” will run till October 11 and is expected to showcase India’s growing leadership in the global digital and telecom space.

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia visited the IMC 2025 venue to review the final preparations ahead of the Prime Minister’s inauguration.

Scindia also travelled to the venue and back via the Airport Metro, symbolising India’s push for modern and sustainable urban transport.

During his visit, the minister toured the exhibition area, interacted with participating startups and exhibitors, and chaired review meetings with senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and other partner agencies.

Speaking to the media, Scindia said that IMC 2025 would mark a new era in global connectivity, where technologies like 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), and satellite communications would come together to shape the future.

He emphasised that the event reflects Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a self-reliant and innovative India that connects not only within but also with the world.

IMC 2025 is expected to attract more than 1.5 lakh visitors, 7,000 delegates from over 150 countries, and 400 exhibitors spread across 4.5 lakh square feet.

The event will also feature over 1,600 technology demonstrations and 100 sessions with more than 800 speakers discussing the latest developments in telecom and digital innovation.

Highlighting the scale of the event, Scindia said that IMC has grown from being a national platform to becoming a global technology congress that represents India’s digital leadership.

He added that the 2025 edition will include six major global summits — covering 6G research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, satellite communications, startups, and the Global Startup World Cup — India Edition.

The minister also underlined India’s achievements in the telecom sector, noting that the country now ranks among the world’s top three digital economies with 1.2 billion mobile subscribers, 970 million internet users, and the fastest-ever 5G rollout completed in just 22 months.