District co-op union chief disqualified

Shanthamma was elected to the Union as representative of Small Scale Industries Workers’ Association, Krishnapur, Bangarpet.

Following complaints of embezzlement of funds in the Association, the cooperative department conducted a statutory inquiry and submitted a report in November last.

The Assistant Registrar dissolved the management committee of the Association and appointed a special officer for a period of six months.

S R Rudraswamy, a member of the cooperative union had filed a complaint to the Joint Registrar claiming that in view of the dissolution of the committee she represented,
Shantamma had no locus standi to continue as member of the Cooperative Union.

Based on his complaint, Joint Registrar C S Veeresh had issued a notice to Shantamma on December 22, last year. An inquiry was held held on January 10 and she was given time till January 28 to file objections. However, her counsel had failed to file objections within the stipulated period.

Shantamma’s version

Denying the charges of irregularities, Shantamma said the joint registrar had not conducted the preliminary inquiry before issuing the order and did not even verify the accounts of the union. But, she has not filed an appeal challenging the joint director’s order. Hence, she was not eligible to continue as the president, stated an order from the joint registrar.

A member of the Union, on condition of anonymity, said that the efforts were on to close the case, and to continue Shantamma as president.