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HC admits Chaudhary's petition against no-confidence motion

Court to begin final hearing from Dec 23, stay extended till disposal of petition

BS Reporter Ahmedabad
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) chairman, Vipul Chaudhary, today got relief from the Gujarat High Court which admitted his petition challenging the no-confidence motion contemplated by majority of members of the federation. The court also extended the stay on the meeting called to discuss the no-trust motion till final decision on Chaudhary's petition.

While pronouncing the order Justice A J Desai said that final hearing on Chaudhary's petition would begin from December 23. The court also vacated stay on another meeting (November 6) called by the GCMMF managing director for transaction of routine business. The meeting was stayed following petition by Chaudhary earlier this month.

"Looking at the important function of the federation the petition (Chaudhary's) is admitted and final hearing will take place from December 23," the court said in its order.

The court has also directed both parties, Chaudhary and member unions, to submit documents regarding the activities of the federation.

Chaudhary is facing the heat by a majority of board members over mismanagement in Mehsana District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, as well as for meeting Congress vice-chairman Rahul Gandhi with an eye on National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) top job. Mehsana Union is also headed by Vipul Chaudhary.

The Mehsana Union also came under GCMMF's attack for constant decline in milk procurement by the union and setting up 9 lakh liters per day milk processing plant.

As many as 14 out of 17 board members of Rs  13,700 crore GCMMF had moved a no-confidence motion against Chaudhary and had called for a special meeting on October 26 to discuss no-trust motion.

The High Court had stayed the scheduled meeting on October 25 after Chaudhary filed a petition challenging the no-confidence motion against him.

During the arguments in the case Chaudhary's lawyers had argued that no confidence motion was politically motivated and argued that there was no such provision (moving no-confidence motion) in the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act or in the bye-laws of GCMMF.

The federation and its members who had opposed Chaudhary's petition had claimed that it was an internal dispute between members of the body and the chairman had acted in a haste by filing the petition.
 

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First Published: Nov 29 2013 | 8:14 PM IST

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