HC sets 80 days for state to wind up scrutiny of primary societies before holding Gokul dairy polls

Kolhapur: The Bombay high court's Kolhapur bench has set an 80-day deadline for the state cooperatives department to complete the scrutiny of 1,320 primary dairy member societies before holding elections for the Kolhapur Zilha Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh, popularly known as Gokul's new managing body. These primary milk societies are facing notices showing cause as to why they should not be liquidated for violation of the Cooperatives Act.The bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar and Justice Pravin S Patil directed the cooperative department to hold hearing and pass appropriate orders in each matter. The bench also directed State Cooperative Election Authority to conduct the election of Gokul dairy after the exercise is over. The present Gokul managing body's term ends on May 4 and the HC directive means the state in all likelihood will appoint an administrator to run the day-to-day affairs of one of the biggest milk cooperatives in Maharashtra.There were 5,740 primary dairy societies in the list as voters for upcoming crucial election for the dairy which has an annual turnover of nearly Rs4,000 crore. Out of these, questions were raised over 1,320 dairy societies stating that they do not collect required amount of milk to be supplied to Gokul and therefore should be disqualified or liquidated. At the stage of preparing voters' list, a section of members objected to the list stating that nearly 1,320 primary milk societies out of 5,470 listed does not qualify given they have no optimum collection of milk daily and other alleged administrative lapses.The state govt told the court that the number of primary dairy societies in question forms around 24% of the total electorate and it has started the hearings to settle the objections. Kedar Dighe, Additional Government Pleader, submitted that within a period of 80 days, the hearing with respect to confirmation of interim orders of winding up passed against these 1320 societies will be completed and final orders will be passed. He stated that as far as about 267 such societies are concerned, final orders are already passed."After the above exercise is over, the State Co- operative Election Authority to conduct the election of Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangha Ltd, in accordance with law," the bench said in its order, disposing off a bunch of petitions by the primary milk societies.GRAPHICSGokul dairy established in 1963, is major economic driver in rural KolhapurAnnual turnover is Rs 3,966 crore (2024-25)Daily milk procurement- 16 lakh litresFarmers supplying milk to Gokul dairy- 5 lakhProducts-Milk, Lassi, butter milk, cheese, paneer and no in ice-creams