In a decisive step to restore statutory governance and democratic functioning in the National Federation of Fishers’ Cooperatives Ltd. (FISHCOPFED), the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has appointed an Administrator following directions of the Delhi High Court.
Acting on the advice of the Office of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies under the Ministry of Cooperation, and in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s order dated 19 December 2025, the Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has appointed Subhash Chandra, Director (Fisheries), IOFS-2003, as Administrator of FISHCOPFED under Section 123 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 (as amended in 2023). The Administrator will function in place of the Board of Directors.
The Administrator’s tenure will be six months, extendable up to a maximum of one year, without any additional remuneration. One of the key mandates entrusted to him is to conduct free, fair and transparent elections for the constitution of a new Board of Directors at the earliest.
With the appointment of the Administrator, the continuation and service status of P.K. Chaudhary and S.S. Mahhour have come under direct scrutiny. Both officials are alleged to have continued in FISHCOPFED without any duly notified provision for extension of service. It is further alleged that Mahhour has been functioning on the post of “Director by promotion,” a post that does not exist under the notified and extant FISHCOPFED Service and Recruitment Rules, 2020, raising serious questions over the legality of his appointment and decisions taken during this period.
A section of FISHCOPFED employees has alleged that Chaudhary and Mahhour manipulated the federation’s election process, allegedly securing promotions and subsequent extensions of service on a quid pro quo basis. Both officers are arrayed as parties in the ongoing election-related arbitration dispute involving FISHCOPFED.
Earlier, the Arbitrator had restrained both officers from functioning through an order dated 15 December 2025. However, the Delhi High Court, while hearing an appeal filed by T.P. Rao Dora and others against the arbitral order under Section 17 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, modified the restraint. In its order dated 19 December 2025, the Court directed that their continuation, if any, shall be strictly subject to the approval and supervision of the Administrator.
The appointment of the Administrator is also expected to restore normal administrative functioning in the federation. Speaking to India Cooperative, officers such as M.A. Khan, Assistant Director, expressed hope that they would now be allowed to attend office. Khan is alleged to have been illegally prevented from discharging his official duties by Chaudhary and Mahhour.
FISHCOPFED is the apex national-level federation of fisheries cooperatives in India, established in 1980 and rechristened in 1982. It plays a key role in promoting the fishery cooperative movement, supporting welfare and capacity-building initiatives for fishers, and coordinating with central and state agencies on fisheries development programmes.
