HC Stays Suspension Of 2 Odisha Cooperative Bodies Managing Panels

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has ordered a stay on suspension of the managing committees of Odisha Cooperative Housing Corporation (OCHC) and Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) till August 28.

While hearing separate petitions by seven members of these committees, single judge bench of Justice B P Routray asked for records relating to the July 31 suspension order of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) over alleged corruption and financial irregularities.

“Normally this court refrains from granting interim protection in matters relating to suspension. But the facts of this case reveal that the petitioner is a member of the duly elected committee and his duration of continuance will be reduced by the order of suspension and there is no financial irregularity alleged against the petitioner,” Justice Routray said on Tuesday.

Notices have also been issued to the RCS and additional secretary Cooperation department.

Five petitions were filed by Niranjan Pradhan, Biswaranjan Mohanty, Pratap Chandra Maharana, Jatadhari Pradhan and Arjuna Swain, members of managing committee of OCHC, and two by OSCB members Sanyasi Pradhan and Imran Khan.

The court has posted the matter for August 28.

The RCS had suspended the managing committees of OCHC and OSCB as per Section 32(7) of the Odisha Cooperative Societies Act, 1962. “During the period of suspension of the committee, the commissioner-cum-secretary of Cooperation department will manage the affairs of the apex cooperative bank,” the order added.

On August 9, another order mentioned that T Prasad Rao Dora had ceased to be a member and president of OSCB managing committee. “It has been found that you have incurred disqualification under section 28(3-a) of the Odisha Cooperative Societies Act, 1962 to continue as a member of the committee of management of OSCB, Bhubaneswar as well as President of the committee,” it said while referring to the inquiry made on the alleged disqualification and financial irregularities by RCS.