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| Directors’ verdict decisive: Manohar | | Mohinder, Tariq declare each other ‘ineligible’ | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 14: As one of the only few surviving signs of cooperative movement in Jammu and Kashmir crumbles under the weight of leadership tussle, the Minister for Cooperatives Dr Manohar Lal Sharma has said that he wants Banks to be truly democratic institutions but if directors fail to resolve the issues amicably, the last resort will have to be taken –takeover of management!
Upset over the crisis that broke out at Jammu Central Cooperative Bank Ltd following bid by former Chairman Mohammad Sharief Tariq to replace incumbent Mohinder Singh, the Cooperative Minister said that decision on chairmanship shall be taken in next two to three days after all directors are heard. In November last year Tariq was removed as Bank Chairman by Mohinder Singh in a ‘bloodless coup’ while he was busy in electioneering away in Rajouri. A year later, Tariq along with his supporters turned up to the Bank premises at Sehkari Bhawan on Thursday and occupied the Chairman’s secretariat claiming support of nine of 14 Directors on the Board.
Describing the incident unfortunate, avoidable and detrimental to functioning of Cooperative Bank, the Minister said, “our effort is that a democratically elected management runs the Bank and we have nothing to do between Tariq and Singh”. He told Early Times that a panel of inquiry was constituted on Thursday which has already submitted report but no further administrative decision could be taken due to weekend off. Manohar Lal, however, emphatically added, “I have heard the Chairman, the claimant to the post and seen the report of Registrar as also that of Managing Director of the Bank but I am not going to decide anything till I hear all Directors of the Bank”.
He said all efforts shall be made to amicably resolve the issue with majority consent of the Board of Directors. Whosoever enjoys majority will be facilitated to run affairs of the Bank smoothly. “But if we are convinced that there are clear hurdles in smooth running of the Bank and crisis is continuing, we have to take an administrative decision under rules to take over Bank management till proper elections are held and new democratically elected management takes over”, said Dr Manohar Lal and added, “we are sitting here to strengthen the cooperative movement and not as witnesses to collapse of these institutions”.
The incumbent Chairman of the Bank Mohinder Singh told Early Times that under the Bank procedures, Mohammad Sharief Tariq long seized to be a Director of the JCC Bank and therefore he does not have any claim to become the Chairman. Citing two procedural reasons, Mohinder Singh said, anyone who have any blood relation as employee of the bank and anyone who has missed two meetings of the board consecutively seizes to be a Director on Board. “Tariq falls in both categories”, he said and informed, “Tariq’s real brother as an Assistant General Manager of the same Bank and he did not attend any meeting in last one year”. “The forcible entry of Tariq in Bank was not only democratic but also a contempt as matter is subjudice before the Tribunal”, he said.
Disputing Mohinder Singh’s claims, Tariq told Early Times, “I was never served any notice for the Board meeting”, he added, “in fact, Mohinder Singh never convened any Board meeting in last one year. He would take signatures of the Directors individually and put copy of a meeting notice in his file which was never served on me”. Tariq pointed out that Mohinder Singh ineligible to be the Director as he is defaulter of another financial institution.
Tariq claimed that he continues to enjoy support of nine of the 14 Directors and he has affidavit of his supporters to that effect. Rubbishing the allegations that he made forcible entry in the Bank, Tariq said, “I am the Chairman de-jure and have every right to be in my office. The infact force was used upon me at behest of the ruling party leaders and Ministers as Mohinder Singh belongs to National Conference”.
Meanwhile, the Cooperative Minister Dr Manohar Lal Sharma has said that the government is soon constituting a committee to formulate a comprehensive Co-operative policy in tune with the Central Co-operative Policy to rejuvenate the co-operative movement in the State. He was speaking at the inauguration of 56th All India Co-operative Week here today.
The Minister said that co-operative movement has played a vital role during the pre and post independence era in making the rural economically self-reliant all across the country including J&K. He said there was an urgent need to revive the co-operative movement which has received a setback due to long period of turmoil in the State. The membership of the Cooperative Societies has decreased enormously and there is a need to incorporate fresh members, Dr. Manohar said and added that to increase the membership, it is imperative that the Co-operative Societies transform themselves into financially sound units.
Earlier, Secretary, Co-operatives, Yadullah dwelt at length over the co-operative movement in the State and called for reviewing the overall functioning of the Cooperative sector and steps needed to make the movement vibrant. He said the week has a great significance as it is being celebrated along with the birth anniversary of the first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru who had attached great significance to Co-operative Movement. Registrar, Cooperative, Mr. G. N. Sofi also spoke on the occasion.
Chairman, Jammu Central Co-operative Bank, Mr. Mohinder Singh briefed about the achievements of the bank. He said that the main objectives of the cooperative movement was to increase productivity, arrange loans for agriculture inputs and to create marketing facilities for the farming community. He said total deposits of the bank at present were to the tune of Rs.803 crore against advances of Rs. 294.33 crore. During the current year, the bank has issued loans to the tune of over Rs.7 crore in the farm sector and over Rs. 50 crore in non-farm sector.
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