An available statutory appeal should be pursued before seeking writ relief.

The petitioners challenged an order of the Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, seeking its quashing and a direction restraining the respondents from interfering with the Society’s affairs

The State objected that an appeal lay before the Joint Registrar under Section 78 of the Chhattisgarh Cooperative Societies Act, 1960

The petitioners did not oppose the State’s submission on the alternative remedy

Whether the petitioners should pursue the statutory appellate remedy under Section 78 of the Chhattisgarh Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, instead of obtaining relief in the writ petition?

Whether the Court should grant the requested relief against the impugned order and the respondents’ alleged interference with the Society’s affairs?

Section 78 of the Chhattisgarh Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 provides an appellate remedy before the Joint Registrar, which the petitioners may pursue in accordance with law.

The State also relied on the general principle that writ jurisdiction is discretionary where an alternative remedy is available, citing Transport & Dock Workers Union v. Mumbai Port Trust, (2011) 2 SCC 575; however, the Court did not separately analyse or apply that precedent.

In light of the State’s specific objection that an appeal was available before the Joint Registrar under Section 78, and the petitioners’ non-opposition to that submission, the Court considered it appropriate for them to pursue the statutory remedy.

It did not examine the merits of the impugned order or the requested restraint against interference.