Affairs in the Balangir District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB) ltd do not seem to be going usual way as its president laxman Kumar Meher is continuing in office after being reinstated in an alleged “malafide” manner for more than a year now.
“After an inquiry into the allegations of misconduct, the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Society (DRCS) sacked Meher from the president post in June 2016. However, Meher challenged his ouster at the Orissa High Court. While the HC directed the Registrar Cooperative Society (RCS) to conduct an inquiry and take action in two months, the later didn’t conduct any inquiry. Meher then filed a contempt of court case against the RCS. later, the RCS appeared in person in the court, filed an affidavit and reinstated him on December 22, 2016. But on a later date, the RCS filed a writ petition at a division bench of the High Court providing support to the DRCS’s decision of ouster of Meher,” icomplainant Sananda Kuamr Meher, a Director of the DCCB, told The Pioneer.
The RCS, Dr Shashi Bhushan Padhi, has now retired.
Terming president Meher’s continuance as ‘illegal’, the Director demanded Meher be kept away from the post till the inquiry is completed, which is again going on by the DRCS, on the direction of the Government.
“The DRCS ousted him finding truth in allegations of illegal appointment, promotion and finance transactions made by him. The RCS appointed him a tricky way and filed a writ petition for lingering the case as the five-year term of Meher, who was appointed in 2015, will expire in 2020,” the Director alleged and demanded that he be kept away from the post in the better interest of the bank, its depositors and farmers till the inquiry is completed.