Milk producers of Debur, Nanjangud, staged a protest in the city, on Monday, against the reinstatement of D C Shivakumar as Secretary of the Milk producers Cooperative Society in the village.
Members of the society, had brought cans of milk to pour in front of the office of the Assistant Registrar (AR) for Cooperative Societies at Command Area Development Authority (CADA). However, they were convinced by the police not to do so. The farmers had not supplied milk to the society on October 20 evening as well October 21 morning, after Shivakumar reported to duty on October 20. The agitators urged the authorities to take back the orders of reinstatement and appoint any other person to the post.
Shivakumar, who had served as a secretary at the Society for five years from 2006, is accused of misappropriation of funds.
The farmers alleged that he did not even pay farmers regularly for the milk supplied, and was also involved in forging signatures of theirs. The women farmers accused him of misbehaving with them.
They said, after a general body meeting, where Shivakumar was questioned of proper accounts pertaining to the society and milk supply, he had refused to provide the same, and had resigned on September 9, 2011, during the term of AR Guruprasad. Following which, K P Pankaja Venkatesh was appointed to the post as Secretary.
Meanwhile, he approached the AR for his reinstatement after five days of his resignation. The members had produced the audit copies and other necessary documents to prove the allegations against him.
AR Shashidhar, who succeeded Guruprasad, reinstated Shivakumar on the pretext that he had not served the 15 day notice period when he submitted his resignation.
Moved court, KAT
Subsequently, milk producers moved the Karnataka Administration Tribunal (KAT) and the High Court. Recently, the High Court directed KAT to grant the stay. The stay order however states that Shivakumar could continue in the post, while, his salary will be withheld.
Following the orders, Shivakumar sent a joining letter to the Society on September 30, however, he reported to duty only on October 20. The rift between milk producers and Shivakumar started when he refused to use digital weighing scales.
Former Internal accountant of the society Venkatesh D V said that the milk producers were against Shivakumar taking charge, as he was said to be involved in irregularities.