HC seeks state’s reply on exclusion of co op societies from elections

Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court on Friday directed the state govt to explain why cooperative societies were excluded from the electoral process despite an election schedule announced on March 10. A division bench of Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay was hearing a special appeal against the registrar of cooperative societies over his failure to conduct elections and directed the govt to submit its response within two days.According to the case details, the appeal was jointly filed by Lamachaur Samvida Sahakari Samiti Ltd (Haldwani), Kosiyan Kutoli Krishi Utpadan Evam Vipanan Sahakari Samiti, Vaibhav Rasayan Evam Vipanan Sahakari Samiti, Gram Vikas Shram Nirman Sahakari Samiti, Gaula Sahakari Samiti and Nainital Resham Sahakari Samiti Ltd.The petitioners questioned the basis on which the registrar of cooperatives issued notices for not conducting elections when the election tribunal had formally announced the date of elections. They said all these cooperative societies were duly registered with the registrar office and consistently complied with prescribed norms and standards. The petitioners argued that if there was an intention to exclude them, the decision should have been taken before the announcement.They contended that the notices issued by the registrar of cooperatives were contrary to established rules and regulations and sought a stay on the order.