Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 9: BS Manhas, Advocate, J&K High Court, has appealed the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, to immediately remove the Returning Officer appointed for election of management of Citizen’s Co-operative Bank Limited (CCBL), alleging that he has failed to adhere to the statutory provisions.
Click here to watch video
Addressing a press conference, Manhas said that the elections to the management of the CCBL are scheduled to be held on August 23. He said, “Last elections were conducted on September 17, 2012 and the board was elected for a period of three years as mandated under Section 29 of the Co-operative societies Act, however, the incumbent board continued upto December 2, 2016 illegally and was superseded by the Registrar Co-operative Societies.”
He said that at juncture, the administrator appointed was required to hold the elections which are now being held by Zaffar Ahmed Banday, Deputy District Election Officer, Jammu, who has been appointed as a Returning Officer. “Out of the nine elected members of the superseded board, six persons have been opted to contest the present election and it was incumbent upon the Returning Officer to permit only 50% out of the said Board to remain in fray as required in terms of Rule 18 (ff) and (fff) read with Rule 25 (1) (e) of the cooperative Societies Rules”, he said, adding it is unfortunate that the RO has failed to adhere to the statutory provisions and permitted six persons out of the superseded board to contest elections, thereby invalidating the whole of the electoral process.
Manhas said as the election day, i.e. August 23 is a working day and most of the polling stations are located in Government schools and too girl schools, a request was extended to registrar for holding elections on any Sunday but the same has not been responded till date. He said that the administration must look into the matter and decide accordingly.
He also requested the DC Jammu to immediately remove the returning officer as to instill confidence in the contestants and make the entire electoral process transparent and free from any influence.
Follow our WhatsApp channel