The Kanara Goud Saraswat Co-op Housing Society Ltd (Hereinafter referred to as ‘KGS Society” or “Society”) was formed in the year 1919. The Society was registered under Section 9 of Act II 1912, under the Registration No.2477, dated 15^th July, 1919.

The Society was/is governed by its own bye-laws which had been framed and duly adopted at the time of formation of the Society. The Society is however, being considered as the deemed Co-op Society, under the MCS Act, 1960.

The Society, with a view to purchasing a plot of land and constructing the buildings thereon, for the purpose of providing the residential accommodation to the members of the Goud Saraswat Community had appealed to the members of the community to contribute to the cause of the Society and had raised the funds from those members of the community who had expressed their willingness to invest their funds in the Society. The Society, in lieu of the funds invested by such persons, had allotted/issued the shares of the Society to them and who are the Shareholders of the Society.

The Society had thereafter, requested the Collector, Thane to allot a plot of land of an adequate size to it, at Village Ismalia, Andheri East, Mumbai and the Collector, Thane had thereupon, under section 65 of the Bombay Land Revenue code,1879 awarded to the Society, a Sanad for the residential premises and allotted a plot of land, i.e. Survey No.1, admeasuring 12 Acres and 9 Gunthas or thereabout, situated at Village Ismalia, in the South Salsette Taluka of the Bombay Suburban District, in the Year 1919, which had been categorized as “Non Agricultural Land”, for the purpose of constructing the Residential buildings on the said plot of land.

The Society had thereafter, divided the said plot of land into 77 plots and allotted/sold 55 plots out of 77 plots to the interested buyers on certain conditions. The Society had executed a Sale Deed with each of the persons/institutions to whom the plots had been sold and had duly registered the said Sale Deeds. The Society had retained the remaining 22 plots with itself, for the purpose of constructing the residential buildings thereon. At present, the Society owns 22 plots, viz. CTS Nos. 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 97, 100, 102,105, 107, 120, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 138, 140, 142, 145 and part of plot No.159. The Society also owns all the internal roads, by-lanes and the common amenities, situated within the premises of the entire Saraswati Baug area. Out of these 22 plots of KGS Society, one plot is reserved as a Playground and other plot is earmarked and reserved as Recreation ground (RG).

Out of the aforesaid 22 plots which are owned by the Society, the Society had constructed Residential buildings on 19 plots in early 1920’s. All these buildings are therefore more than 100 years old.  All the flats/tenements situated within these 19 buildings had/have been given by the Society on tenancy / rental basis to the members of the GSB community.

On the central plot of the Society, i.e. CTS No.131, there is a structure known as ‘Shree Saraswati Mandir’ which had been constructed in the year 1923, for the purpose of using the same as the Community Centre. This structure consists of Shri. Shantaram Mangesh Hall and a few rooms including Store Room and toilets which are situated on the rear side of Shree Saraswati Mandir. A portion of this structure had been given on rent to Bombay Municipal Corporation (MCGM), for the purpose of enabling it to run a Marathi Medium School. This School had been shifted by the MCGM in its own building situated in Jogeshwari East about 30 years back however, the MCGM had/has not vacated the said premises and continues to the monthly rent to the Society. From the year in which the Saraswati Mandir had been constructed, the Society has been/is occupying a portion the Saraswati Mandir as its Registered Office which is situated on the rear side of Shree Saraswati Mandir.

The entire plot having CTS No.127, situated opposite Shree Rameshwar Mandir Sausthan is vacant. In a small portion of the plot having CTS No.159 A, a few chawls are situated and some other portion of this plot of land is under dispute with a builder who had illegally encroached upon the said portion of land. This Suit is pending before the Hon’ble High Court, Mumbai.

All the people residing in the 19 Buildings and Chawls, situated in the property of the Society are the tenants of the Society. In all, there are 82 Tenants of the Society. Out of these, 64 tenants are residing in the 19 buildings owned by the Society, 16 tenants are residing in the chawls owned by the Society and 2 tenants are residing in the two flats each owned by the Society, in a building known as Mandar Apartment which is owned by Mandar CHS Ltd. (An ownership society).