HC stays appointment of Urban Coop Bank Panel

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Monday  stayed the appointment of the committee for management of the Urban Cooperative Bank, Cuttack, a day after the notification to this effect was issued by the State Government. A Division Bench comprising Justices BP Das and SK Mishra while issuing notice to the Government has sought production of all records by the next hearing on September 29.The directives came in response to two writ petitions filed by elected directors of the Bank __ Ranjita Kahali and Tilottama Pradhan. They have challenged the amendment made to the Election Rules as well as the notification appointing the committee on various grounds.According to them, as there was no election for a long time, the HC had directed holding of the election for the managing committee last year. Pursuant to the directions, election to the managing committee was held and the new body took charge only in December 2010.While the elected body was functioning there was no necessity for the Government to take such a decision which was illegal and arbitrary. The petitioners have alleged that one of the members appointed by the Government in the new committee had lost the election last year.Indicating other circumstances, the petitioners have appealed to the court to quash the amendment to the Election Rules as well as the notification appointing the committee.