Bombay High Court refuses to stay ordinance on Gokul dairy board ahead of chairman vote

Thousands of milk farmers protested in Kolhapur on Monday, November 9, after the Bombay High Court refused to stay a state government ordinance giving voting rights to four government-nominated directors on the Gokul dairy board.

What Happened

In elections held last month, a panel led by Congress MLC Satej Patil won 13 of the 25 elected seats, defeating the Mahayuti-backed panel which secured 12. Following the polls, the Maharashtra government issued an ordinance to add four government nominees with voting rights. This shift potentially hands control of the state's largest milk cooperative, Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh Maryadit, to the ruling Mahayuti alliance, bringing their potential strength to 16 against Patil's 13.

Court Ruling

Justice Neeraj P Dhote, presiding over a vacation bench on Monday, rejected the plea for an interim stay on the ordinance. The court held that the government actions remain subject to the outcome of a pending writ petition. Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, and Shrikrishna Ganbavale represented the petitioners and argued that the ordinance was an arbitrary move to alter election results. Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Anil Anturkar, Anil Sakhare, and government pleader Neha Bhide defended the state action. The court directed that ballot papers for the 25 elected directors and four nominees be kept separate during counting.

Protests

Congress leader Satej Patil led a large march from Dasara Chowk to the Kolhapur Collector's office, drawing thousands of participants. Leaders who joined the protest include farmer leader Raju Shetti, Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, Lok Sabha MPs Vishal Patil and Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil, and NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil, while NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule also extended support. Patil questioned the credentials of the four nominees—Shivaji Adnaik, Dr Pravinchandra Hendre, Krishnat Patil, and advocate Prashant Patole.

Context

Milk cooperatives in Maharashtra play a major role in the state's rural economy and carry significant political influence. Legal disputes involving government intervention in cooperative societies often hinge on the balance of autonomy versus state regulatory powers.