Appeal against arbitration award under Delhi Co-operative Societies Act lies before Co-operative Tribunal, not High Court.

The Petitioner, a resident/member of Uttaranchal CGHS Ltd. (the Society), challenged an arbitral award dated 26.05.2026, which directed him to pay Rs. 3,29,256/- in maintenance and development charges

Previously, the Registrar of Co-operative Societies (RCS) had referred the dispute to arbitration under Section 71 of the Delhi Co-operative Societies (DCS) Act

The Petitioner unsuccessfully challenged the reference order before the Delhi Co-operative Tribunal (DCT), which held on 09.02.2026 that even an expelled member occupying a flat remains liable for maintenance

Additionally, the Petitioner contended that the RCS failed to comply with a prior High Court direction dated 26.03.2025 to decide his complaint regarding financial irregularities and illegal construction within the Society

1. Whether the High Court should entertain a writ petition against an arbitral award passed under Section 71 of the DCS Act when a statutory remedy exists.

2. Whether the RCS failed to comply with previous judicial directions to adjudicate the Petitioner’s grievances regarding the Society’s management.

Section 112(1)(k) of the Delhi Co-operative Societies Act, which provides that any decision or award made under Section 71 is an appealable order before the Delhi Co-operative Tribunal

The principle of administrative accountability and judicial discipline regarding the timely disposal of statutory complaints as previously directed under Article 226 of the Constitution

Regarding the challenge to the arbitral award, the Court accepted the Respondent's preliminary objection that the Petitioner had bypassed an efficacious alternative remedy

Under Section 112(1)(k) of the DCS Act, the DCT is the appropriate forum for such appeals; thus, the High Court declined to exercise its extraordinary writ jurisdiction on the merits of the award

Concerning the second issue, the Court noted that despite the order in W.P.(C) 3792/2025 requiring the RCS to decide the Petitioner's complaint within four months from March 2025, no decision had been communicated

The Court found it necessary to reiterate these directions to ensure the RCS fulfills its statutory and judicial obligations

It ordered the Society to refrain from coercive recovery steps until 31.08.2026, leaving interim relief to the DCT’s discretion

The Court directed the RCS to pass a final order on the Petitioner’s complaint dated 16.01.2023 within one month, after hearing both parties, and to communicate the same to the Petitioner

All other legal remedies were left open