Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has stayed the order of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies disqualifying eight directors of Goa Dairy on Friday.
Six petitioners had moved the High Court challenging the order of the Registrar, which was based on the complaints made by two of directors on the Board of Directors of the Society, one of which was its chairman.
The court observed that the Registrar may exercise powers of his own motion or suo motu, however, in the facts of the present case, at least prima facie it is difficult to accept that the Registrar has invoked his suo motu powers.
“Rather, the documents produced on record very clearly refer to the exercise of powers on the basis of the complaints by two out of the 15 directors which constitute the Board of Directors of the said society,” the Division Bench noted.
It thereafter ordered disqualification of the petitioners pending the hearing, and final disposal of this petition is stayed. However, the Administrator who is already appointed to govern the affairs of the society may continue to do so.
“On the basis of this stay, therefore, it shall not be open to the petitioners to insist upon the reconstitution of the Board of Directors pending the hearing and final disposal of this petition. We further clarify that this stay order is qua the Petitioners alone,” the five page order further said.
The petition is now placed for final hearing on November 21, 2019. The parties have been directed to complete their pleadings latest by November 15, 2019.
In August, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies had disqualified 8 Goa Dairy Board directors including a co-opted Director and appointed Dr Vilas Naik as Administrator of Goa Dairy. The order was passed in view of allegations of huge scams in Goa Dairy.
