HC invalidates election of 17 members of coop sugar mills

:Madras High Court has invalidated the election of 17 members of board of directors to the M R Krishnamoorthy Cooperative sugar mills in Cuddalore district and appointed a retired district judge to conduct the polls afresh after verifying the list of voters.
Justice C S Karnan passed the orders on a petition by a group of 24 persons, who said election authorities rejected 45 nominations of candidates as invalid and declared as unopposed the remaining 17 candidates.
Allowing the pleas, the judge said the election had been conducted in a manner which resembled appointment of candidates for available vacancies.
Noting that a ruling party leader had influenced the impugned elections in May 2013, the judge said a retired district judge may be appointed to avoid such irregularities . "No one will be prejudiced by fair elections."

The petitioners submitted that a total of 62 nominations had been filed for 17 vacancies. The 17 candidates 'elected unopposed belonged to the ruling party, they said and alleged that the other candidates were thrown out of the election office.
When they objected to the high handedness, police were called in and the protesters were detained in a school till the 'election process was completed. The 17 elected persons were active members of the ruling party and unqualified to become members of the cooperative sugar mill, they said.
Advocate General A L Somayaji rejected the claims and said the polls were conducted as per rules, and added that if there were any poll-related grievances they could be brought to the knowledge of registrar of cooperative societies.

Justice Karnan said the charges were serious requiring 'a comprehensive inquiry'. To conduct elections in a democratic manner legal voters should be identified and land-holdings of members too should be ascertained, he said, adding that a retired judge is being appointed commissioner for conducting polls for board of directors for the cooperative sugar mills.