Chaudhary out, but no fresh election for GCMMF chief

SC orders status quo on appeal of Chaudhary against no confidence motion

Though Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) board has removed its chairman Vipul Chaudhary, the federations cannot hold fresh elections for the now vacant post as the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered status quo as on date.

While acting on an appeal of Chaudhary challenging the implementation of no confidence motion against him passed by majority of GCMMF members, a bench of Apex Court headed by Justice R M Lodha directed to maintain status quo with regard fresh elections.

The court noted that no confidence motion had been implemented by the GCMMF managing director with effect from January 11, hence Chaudhary was no longer chairman of the federation, said one of the lawyers representing the member milk unions, who are respondents in Chaudhary's appeal. It did not interfere with the proceedings with regard to the implementation of the order removing the chairman, he added.

Chaudhary's lawyer P S Champaneri said that court has ordered status quo, hence, there cannot be fresh elections at least till the next hearing which is after two weeks. The court also issued notice to GCMMF on Chaudhary's appeal and directed the federations to file reply in two weeks time.

The GCMMF board had last week informed Chaudhary that he ceases to be chairman of the federation with effect from January 11.

The letter followed after the a division bench of Gujarat High Court last week dismissed Chaudhary's appeal against implementation of the no confidence motion against him. On January 10 a division bench of Justice R R Tripathi and Justice Mohinder Pal of the Gujarat High Court had dismissed Chaudhary's appeal challenging the implementation of no confidence motion against him by majority of federation members.

The Board of Directors of GCMMF had unanimously passed a no confidence motion against Chaudhary on December 5.