In a major victory for the traditionalists, the Patna High Court has ruled that the old system of making members of PACS is more reliable than the online system which was being advocated by the Nitish govt currently.
On Tuesday the Patna High Court stayed making online members by Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACCs). The court has directed the State Registrar to create a voter list in the old pattern.
Hailing the court order co-operators of the state led by Biscomaun Chairman Sunil Singh said “it is our collective victory and this Order would dissuade the govt from enacting laws detrimental to the cooperative movement even in future.”
Sunil further added “When even members as old as of 30 years of PACS have not benefitted at all from the govt schemes in the past, what was the need to make online members in a fraudulent manner.”
The court has also directed the state government and the state election commission to file an affidavit within two weeks. The case will be heard after two weeks.
The court said, “The online members of PACS will no longer be voters or they will not be able to contest election. Besides, the court has declared the announcement of the PACS election illegal.
Honorable Judge Rajiv Ranjan announced the verdict while hearing the petition filed by the Chairman of PACS Babu Bandh and others.
Senior Advocate Yaduvansh Giri said, the state government doesn’t want PACS representatives elected under the democratic system, there is no provision of preparing an online voter list in the Co-operative Act.
Readers would recall that there are 8430 PACCS in the state, which will go to the polls to elect their directors.
The Bihar government has abolished the old system of electing board of PACCS and implemented a new system.
Earlier, the state election commission has announced the election of PACCs in six phases. As per election programs, the nomination will start from 22nd August. Voting will be held on 14 September.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, dozens of people of Champanagar Panchayat protested at the block headquarters accusing the electoral rolls of the elections have been manipulated.
