PANJIM: RamchandraNaikMule was elected as chairman of Goa State Co-operative Union Limited, Panjim by draw of lots on Thursday.
Both Naik and his opponent RudayanathNaik polled five votes each after which Assistant registrar of Cooperative Societies (ARCS) Harish Naik resorted to draw of lots. Which smiled on the face of Mule.
The election was necessitated as per the directives of the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Mule and four others had approached the High Court challenging the impugned order/minutes of proceedings dated September 11, 2023, recorded by the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies holding that the motion of no-confidence was not passed against ShrikantNaik.
Setting aside the impugned order/minutes of proceedings dated September 11, 2023 recorded by the ARCS, the Court declared that the motion of no-confidence was validly passed against ShrikantNaik, who consequently stood removed as a chairman of the Union, and the position held by him fell vacant on September 11, 2023.
The Court stated that since five out of nine board of directors voted in favourof the no-confidence, the same was validly passed in terms of Section 59A of the Act. The ARCS grossly erred in relying upon the by-laws when it was well settled that in case of a conflict between the by-laws of the society and the statutory provisions contained in the said Act, it is the latter that would prevail.
The approach of the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies was contrary to the democratic principles and the principles of neutrality which the Assistant Registrar was duty-bound to respect, the Division Bench comprising Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice B P Deshpande said.
The Court further directed the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) to proceed with the elections for the post of chairman, which was scheduled on Thursday.
