“We would get favourable judgment from the High Court and would be back in a month’s time”, said Shri Sunil Singh, Chairman of Biscomaun while talking to Indiancooperative.com soon after the Bihar government superseded the cooperative boards.
It is misinterpretation of court ruling and miscarriage of justice. We will file contempt case in the court of Chief Justice. High Court has merely quashed Section 14 A (I) clause. We are covered by Section 14 A (4) clause of constitutional amendment of 2008, said Mr Singh.
Readers may recall that state government superseded the board of several cooperative federations including Biscomaun and Bihar State Housing Federation on Monday. It also superseded the board of 14 district cooperative banks and board of about 300 Vyapar mandals across the state.
Government has earlier also tried to stall the completion of election process in Biscomaun. Our collegiums of 188 strong delegates were elected and the process of election of Chairman was about to be completed in 2008 when government came out with the constitutional amendment Act 2008 modifying 1935 state cooperative act to stop us from being elected, said the outgoing Chairman Mr Singh.
The amendment of 2008, among other things, introduces section 14 A which empowers state to set up Authority to conduct cooperative elections. Government soon launched a historic election of PACs across the state electing cooperative leaders from grass root level.
State apex cooperatives such as Biscomaun and others fought against the government order and was able to defend itself despite many governmental attempts to supersede the board till last Monday.
State Cooperative Minister Ramadhar Singh has taken revenge against me. He was sent to jail and had to quit his ministerial position due to a court case of Aurangabad. But I will not sit idle and would rebound as the Chairman sooner than later, Mr Singh said.
Biscomaun outgoing Chairman claimed to Indiancooperative.com that he enjoys mass support from cooperative leaders of the state while his detractors pooh-poohs his claim.
Primary Agricultural Societies are the real cooperatives in which leaders have been elected from grass root level. These Chairmen of Biscomaun and District cooperative boards have no legal standing, says Ranjit Singh, son of late Tapeshwar Singh who was held as doyen of Indian cooperative movement. Ranjit himself is Chairman of a PAC from Buxer.
Cooperative fight like in other states, unfortunately has taken over the colours of political fight in Bihar. The war has got christened as JDU verses RJD, though people point at growing closeness of Sunil Singh with the Chief Minister.