Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) : Adv. Virendra Ichalakaranjikar, President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad had asked the Cooperative Department, Kolhapur for Audit Reports of ‘Shivaji Multi-purpose Cooperative Society’, Kagal under ‘Right To Information’ Act. (Mr. Hasan Mushrif, a leader of NCP was the office bearer of the society.) The Cooperative Department had refused to provide the required information under ‘Right To Information’ Act by giving reference of an interim order passed by the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court in a petition being heard before it. Even the Government had issued a circular to the effect that Audit Reports of the Cooperative Societies should not be given under ‘Right To Information’ Act. Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad was successful in a legal fight given to oppose this order. Now, the High Court has given decision that it is a binding on the Government to provide Audit Reports of the Cooperative Societies under ‘Right To Information’ Act,’ informed Adv. Suresh Kulkarni in a press conference organised by Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad. For this press conference Adv. Umesh Bhadagaonkar, Ms. Priyanaka Lone and Mr. Sharad Chawada were also present.
By suppressing the Audit Reports in such a way, it becomes difficult yo expose corruption; similarly, it is not known what action has been taken on the questions raised during the audit or whether the audit itself was conducted in a wrong way. Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad approached the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court and brought to its notice the disadvantages of the said Government order. Adv. Suresh Kulkarni and Adv. Umesh Bhadagaonkar argued on behalf of Adv. Virendra Ichalakaranjikar. Similarly, the orders passed by the Supreme Court in the year 2015 were also submitted to the High Court. As a result, the bench comprising Justice T. V. Nalawade and Justice S.S. Patil dismissed the original petition filed in the year 2008 and passed the order that ‘It is a binding and appropriate to provide Audit Reports of the Cooperative Societies under ‘Right To Information’ Act.’ Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad has requested the Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis to give wide publicity to these orders and implement them strictly to check the corruption.
As a result of above order, the common man would be able to seek the Audit Reports and other confidential information. This will also help in checking the rampant corruption taking place in Cooperative sector. This would put an end to the monopoly of emperors in Cooperative sector, which would open doors for the common man for Cooperative sector in the true sense. The order passed by the High Court has been uploaded on the website of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad. The activists in Right To Information field can use this order to expose the corruption in Cooperative sector. If the employees in Cooperative sector were found to disobey the order and try to hush up the corruption, Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad should be contacted on mobile no. 9167671001. This appeal was made by Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad.
Source : Press Release by Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad
