Ahmedabad society’s restriction on renting flats to bachelors stayed

Ahmedabad: The Board of Nominees under the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Ahmedabad, has stayed a housing society’s resolution restricting members from renting their flats to bachelors, unmarried persons and certain other occupants.

The case involves Deepika Dhadhal, a Vadodara resident who owns a flat in Shakti Cooperative Housing Society Ltd in Thaltej, Ahmedabad. She had rented out her flat to individual tenants.

At a general meeting on July 15, 2025, the society passed a resolution restricting members from renting flats to bachelors, unmarried persons and other occupants not approved by the society. It later issued three notices to Dhadhal, warning of action if she did not follow the restrictions.

Dhadhal challenged the resolution before the Board of Nominees. Her lawyers argued that the restriction was against the law and the society’s own bye-laws. They said she had the right to rent out her flat through valid legal agreements.

The society claimed that the flat was being used as a paying guest facility, which was against the members’ decision. Dhadhal’s lawyers denied this, saying the occupants were staying under valid leave and licence agreements.

After hearing both sides, the Board found that Dhadhal had made a prima facie case and that denying interim relief could cause her irreparable loss.

The Board also observed that the society had, prima facie, not followed its own bye-laws.

As interim relief, the Board barred the society and its managing committee from taking coercive, restrictive, punitive or disciplinary action against Dhadhal, her tenants or licensees until the dispute is finally decided.

The Board also stayed the July 15, 2025 resolution to the extent that it restricted members from renting flats to bachelors and unmarried persons. DeshGujarat