HC quashes councils of cooperative bodies

In a major setback to the state government, the Orissa High Court today quashed the government nominated councils and ordered the elected bodies to run the affairs of the cooperative bodies till the next election.

The nominations made by the state government have been quashed by the High Court, which has directed for formulation of rules for the electoral college and laying it before the state assembly within three months.

The court also ordered for conduct of election within six months, as has been laid down in the Orissa Cooperative Societies (amendment) Act, 2011. The present elected bodies of all cooperative institutions shall continue to function as before until the election is conducted. Earlier the state High Court had expressed displeasure over the government’s move to form committees for different cooperative bodies within a short span of promulgation of Orissa Cooperative Societies (amendment) Act, 2011. It may be noted that state government by strength of the amended law had formed new councils for the cooperative bodies. The nominated councils were supposed to take over charge from their respective elected councils, which had been challenged in the High Court.