more-inExpressing deep concern over large-scale deterioration in the cooperative movement and the current paralytic state of hundreds of cooperative societies due to the corrupt practices of their office-bearers, the Madras High Court on Wednesday impressed upon the need for the Tamil Nadu State Cooperative Societies Election Commission (TNSCSEC) to ensure conduct of free and fair elections. Subramaniam made the observation while disposing of a batch of writ petitions filed by various individuals alleging several irregularities in the elections conducted by the TNSCSEC for 18,435 cooperative societies recently. Since the petitioners had also accused the election officials of having colluded with the candidates in many societies, the judge ordered that appropriate action be taken against such officials. The judge said that the commission could declare the results of the elections after disposing of the representations received with respect to each of those cooperative societies. If any individual was aggrieved, then he/she could raise a dispute before the Registrar of Cooperative Societies under Section 90 of the Act and such a dispute should be resolved preferably within six months, provided the parties to the dispute cooperate to the inquiry.

Source: The Hindu May 09, 2018 19:59 UTC