Eligibility Criteria for Voting in the RWA General Body Election (Under HRRSA, 2012)

Subject: Mandatory Eligibility Criteria for Voting in the RWA General Body Election (Under HRRSA, 2012)

Dear Members,

 Voter eligibility for the upcoming General Body election, ensuring full compliance with the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Societies Act, 2012 (HRRSA, 2012) is as follows : 

The right to vote is conditional upon satisfying specific statutory and financial criteria.

I. Foundational Statutory Criteria

To be an eligible member and participate in the election, a person must meet the following basic requirements:

1. Age Requirement: The individual must be at least 21 years of age on the date of admission to the society.

2. Affirmation of Purpose: The member must subscribe to the aims and objects of the Society.

II. Critical Financial Eligibility (Good Standing)

Financial compliance is the most immediate and easily verifiable ground for participation.

• Financial Good Standing is Mandatory: To be eligible to vote, a member must have deposited the membership fee as prescribed in the Bye-laws.

• No Arrears Permitted: It is CRITICAL that the member is in good financial standing. An individual loses their right to vote if they are in arrears of payment of any Society dues, including the annual subscription.

• Automatic Disqualification: Financial default is an ** automatic disqualifier** for electoral participation.

III. Voting Principles

The Act enforces specific limitations on how membership translates into voting rights:

1. "One Flat/Plot/House, One Vote" Principle: The RWA environment operates strictly on the principle of "One One Flat/Plot/House, One Vote".

2. Joint Ownership Rule: In cases of joint ownership of an apartment, typically only the first owner is stipulated as eligible to vote. The Bye-laws should formalize this distinction.

3. No Proxy Voting: Every member who is eligible must cast their vote in person, as proxy voting is explicitly prohibited under the statutory framework.

The list of eligible voters (Register of Voters, required by Form-XII) serves as the certified list of all eligible voters.

Please note that the Returning Officer (RO) possesses the definitive authority to decide objections concerning the list of eligible members entitled to vote, and the RWA’s financial records are treated as key evidence during this process.