Gujarat High Court Intervention Forces Baroda Dairy Election Announcement
In a significant development driven by judicial pressure, the Vadodara district administration has formally issued the notification for the long-delayed elections to the board of Baroda Dairy. This action comes just one day after the Gujarat High Court delivered a sharp rebuke to the state government for its failure to conduct these crucial cooperative elections in a timely manner.
Election Schedule and Key Dates
According to the official notification released on Friday, the election for the board of the Baroda District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited, commonly known as Baroda Dairy, is now scheduled to be held on March 18. The electoral process will unfold over the coming weeks with specific deadlines:
- Nomination Filing: Candidates can submit their nominations for the 13 seats on the dairy's board from February 21 to February 26.
- Nomination Scrutiny: The scrutiny of all nomination forms will be conducted on March 7.
- Withdrawal of Nominations: The window for candidates to withdraw their nominations is set between March 3 and March 7.
- Vote Counting: The counting of votes will take place immediately after the voting concludes on March 18.
The election had been significantly delayed as the term of the incumbent board had already expired, creating a governance vacuum that prompted legal intervention.
Judicial Scrutiny and Government Accountability
A division bench of the Gujarat High Court, comprising Justice Bhargav Karia and Justice L S Piyushzada, took a firm stance while hearing a contempt petition related to the election delays. The bench strongly criticized senior state officials for disregarding previous court orders that mandated cooperative society elections be held at least 90 days before the expiry of a board's term.
In a move underscoring the seriousness of the matter, the court summoned several key officials to appear before the bench. Those directed to appear, either in person or via video conferencing, included:
- The State Cooperative Secretary
- Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Mitesh Pandya
- Vadodara District Collector, Anil Dhameliya
- Assistant Collector, Aishwarya Dubey
- District Cooperative Registrar, Neelam Chavda
Legal Challenges and Government Justifications
The bench raised serious questions about the legality of a recent state government notification issued on January 28, which extended the terms of management committees for all cooperative societies by six months. The court observed that such administrative orders cannot override specific judicial directions, highlighting a potential conflict between executive action and judicial authority.
Furthermore, the court rejected the government's claim that officials were preoccupied with Special Intensive Revision duties, thereby causing the election delays. The bench pointed out that cooperative elections involve a limited voter base and cannot be equated with the extensive logistical demands of assembly or Lok Sabha elections.
The bench also noted that the authorities had failed to publish the preliminary voter list for Baroda Dairy, another critical step in the electoral process. Emphasizing legal requirements, the court stated that once a board's term expires, the law necessitates either fresh elections or the appointment of an administrator. The failure to ensure a timely electoral process was deemed a direct violation of an earlier order issued by a single judge of the High Court.
This series of events underscores the judiciary's active role in ensuring administrative accountability and adherence to democratic processes within cooperative institutions in Gujarat.
