Greeva Garg –
Published on: August 02, 2021 at 5:02 PM
The Gauhati High Court dismissed a PIL that alleged that the working of the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank violates the law.
Concerning the widespread corruption and violation of law by the bank, Senior Journalist Pankaj Lochan Baishya filed the PIL.
Pankaj Lochan alleged that the Managing Director (MD) of the bank is appointed against the legal confinements. Also, loans in the personal interest of the MD were issued with no scrutiny of the bank.
The matter was taken up by the division bench comprising of the Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak.
For proper resolution mechanism, the High Court referred the case under the Assam Co-operative Societies Act, where the shareholders of the Co-operative Societies or concerned persons can raise their grievances before the Registrar of Co-operative Societies.
The High Court dismissed the plea stating it inappropriate to be the subject matter of a PIL.
“This matter can be looked into by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies under the due process of law. The appropriate forum for the present matter is not the High Court at this stage,” opined the Court.
The petitioner agreed to the view of the High Court and prayed for the withdrawal of the writ petition.
“Permission granted. The PIL is dismissed as withdrawn. We, however, make it very clear that dismissal of the present PIL will not prejudice the case of the concerned persons of the Co-operative Bank, in case they choose to approach the Registrar of Cooperative Societies regarding the present concern raised before this Court,” the order reads.
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