Executive Council

When the Society was formed in 1942, the freedom struggle of India from the British Raj was at its peak and a lot of youth had joined the movement. The last British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten was formulating the procedure for the partition of India before leaving after over 200 years of British Rule. In this situation of turmoil and Civil Disobedience, a meeting of the society functionaries was held at New Delhi on October 19, 1946, with Sardar Bahadur Lal Singh, the then Fruit Development Advisor, Govt. of India in the Chair. Dr P.K. Sen, the then Treasurer presented the financial position of the society in the meeting and stressed the need for obtaining greater support of the horticultural workers across the country and the public at large interested in horticultural development in India so as to make it possible to carry out the activities of the society more effectively. During this meeting, Dr M.S. Randhawa, the then President proposed that in order to raise the financial status of the society, patrons of the Society may be elected and any person or institution donating a sum of Rs. 1,000/- or higher would be elected as a Patron of HSI. This proposal was unanimously adopted. It was also specified that since the election rules were formulated, the Executive Council would take over with effect from January 1, 1947. It was further decided that while Sardar Bahadur Lal Singh would be re-elected as the President, Capt. L.M. Mitchell and Mr. P.V. Reddy as Vice-Presidents, Dr A.A. Khan as Secretary and Sardar Bal Singh Bajwa as Treasurer. Twelve councillors and five members of the Editorial Board were also elected. However, the work remained to be carried out by Dr P.K. Sen, who was Editor as well Secretary of the society. The Society is holding regular Executive Council meetings since January 1, 2004 twice a year. Till date 30 meetings have been held for reviewing programmes and discussing various issues related to general management and functions, publications, finances etc. of the society.