Kochi, Nov 4 (IANS) In a setback to the Satheesan-led Kerala government, the High Court on Wednesday quashed its order dissolving the board of directors of the Milma Thiruvananthapuram Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union and directed its immediate reinstatement.
The Division Bench declared illegal the July 25 order issued by the Director of Dairy Development, which dissolved the elected board and appointed an administrative committee, citing alleged irregularities, including those relating to the supply of ghee to Sabarimala.
The Bench, comprising Justices Dr A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and A.K. Preetha, allowed an appeal filed by the Union President and other office-bearers against an earlier single judge verdict dismissing their petition.
The single judge had declined to interfere with the government’s decision to dissolve the board. The office-bearers subsequently challenged that order before the Division Bench.
The verdict now requires the elected board to be restored, overturning the government’s decision to replace it with an administrative committee.
The dissolution had followed allegations of irregularities in the distribution of ghee to the Sabarimala temple.
The issue had also triggered a public defence by the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma).
On August 3, Milma had maintained that there was no lapse in the supply of ghee to Sabarimala and that only premium-quality ghee meeting prescribed standards was supplied.
Milma Chairman K.S. Mani had said the ghee underwent stringent quality checks before being dispatched.
He had also stressed that the federation had never compromised on the quality or purity of its products.
Mani said the ghee was packed in fully sealed 15-kg tins, ruling out the possibility of alteration or tampering during transit.
He also said Milma had received no official communication from the Devaswom authorities about any quality complaints and had received full payment for the supply.
He had further said that any replacement of Milma ghee with substandard products after delivery would amount to a serious offence and that those responsible should face legal action.
The Division Bench verdict is a significant legal setback for the government, as it overturns the administrative action taken against the elected board.
–IANS
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