Coop polls: Odisha HC cancels notification on inclusion of new members in voter’s list

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Dec 23:

The Odisha High Court on Monday cancelled the notification on inclusion of new members in the voter’s list for the ensuing Cooperative elections scheduled on January 18 and 25 next year.

A single judge bench of Justice Biswanath Rath, while canceling the notification issued by the Cooperative registrar on November 17, ruled that no new members would be included in the voter’s list.

The bench maintained that the voter’s list announced by the state government at the time of notification for cooperative polls on October 27 this year would be final.

The directive of the court came in response to a writ petition filed by Ajay Kumar Mohanty while protesting against the decision of the Cooperative registrar on inclusion of new members in the voter’s list.

It may be mentioned that the Cooperative election commissioner had brought a notification for election in 9733 cooperative bodies in the state on October 27 this year.

However, the Cooperative registrar, in a circular issued on November 17, had invited the new members of the cooperative bodies to register their name in the voter’s list by depositing specified fee.

However, terming the circular as unconstitutional and illegal, the petitioner had moved the High Court.