Patna based Bihar Rajya Matsyajivi Sahakari Sangh (COFFED) Managing Director Rishikesh Kashyap has been made the MD-in Charge of the apex body of fisheries cooperatives- Fishcopfed, in a board meeting held virtually recently. On the occasion the board has also made Hukum Singh Bhati as the officiating Vice-Chairman of the federation.
Readers would recall that in May month, the Delhi High Court had set aside the order of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies related to the appointment of Ramdas Sandhe as the officiating President and Mukesh as the MD in-charge of the apex body of fisheries co-operatives in the country FISHCOPFED.
In the wake of this order the meeting of board of directors was called virtually at the end of May month and the board again recommended the name of Fishcopfed Vice-Chairman Ramdas Sandhe as the officiating President and Mukesh Kumar, government nominee as the MD-In-charge of the federation.
Due to delay at the end of the Ministry of Fisheries, the then Managing Director B K Mishra had continued as he was given extension for one year on 30th June 2020, said Kashyap over the phone.
Meanwhile on 23 June 2020, Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India released a letter and said, it may not be legal to appoint the Govt nominee Directors as MD (1/c) in FISHCOPFED It is the considered view of the Govt that since the MD is in employment of FISHCOPFED, hence, FISHCOPFED may appoint any senior most official as MD (/c) for handling day to day administrative matters. Further, FISHCOPFED is advised to initiate necessary action to fill up the post of MD on a regular basis without losing more time”.
Considering this letter, the Fishcopfed called a board meeting and appointed Kashyap as the MD-in Charge.
The letter released for the appointment of Rishikesh Kashyap was signed by Ramdas Sandhe officiating president. In read “FISHCOPFED Board meeting notice No. FISHCOPFED/BOD/2021-22/05 dated 25.06.2021, the 178th meeting of the Board of FISHCOPFED was called under extraordinary circumstances and the meeting was held virtually on 30.06.2021.”
“The Board of FISHCOPFED exercising the powers conferred under section 49 (d) of MSCS Act-2002 and as well as Bye-Laws-29 (l) of FISHCOPFED vide its resolution No. 4 has unanimously appointed Shri Rishikesh Kashyap, the Managing Director, Bihar Rajya Matsyajivi Sahakari Sangh Ltd. (COFFED) Patna as the Managing Director (I/c) of National Federation of Fishers Cooperatives Ltd. (FISHCOPFED), New Delhi with immediate effect till the appointment of regular Managing Director in FISHCOPFED”, it reads.
It bears recall that amidst a spate of complaints about irregularities, the election of the Fishcopfed was held in February this year, which was later suspended by Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies Vivek Aggarwal.
The Central Registrar also appointed Sunil Kumar Singh, Additional Managing Director, NAFED, New Delhi as an Arbitrator and Singh is yet to give an Award in this regard.
It is notable that the Ministry of Fisheries and NCDC have a share of 89 percent in Fishcopfed. With Parshottam Rupala taking charge of the ministry, it is be9ng hoped that things will get back to normal.