AWAS condemns dissolution of elected board, alleges misuse of power by Registrar

The Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers’ and Handicraft Artisan Co-operative Society Ltd. (AWAS) has strongly condemned the recent move by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to dissolve its Board of Directors, elected through a general body election held on July 5, 2024.
Addressing the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, former Vice President of AWAS, Sougrakpam Bhobol, termed the Registrar’s action as an “abuse of power” and said it undermines the democratic rights of cooperative members.
Bhobol said the election of the Board of Directors was conducted in the presence of the then Registrar and was attended by over 350 members. However, nearly a year later, the current Registrar issued a fresh election notification on July 2, 2025, declaring the 2024 election null and void. The stated grounds were that the election had been held during floods and on a public holiday, and that one member allegedly cast votes for two or three delegates.
Rejecting these claims, Bhobol said, “There is no provision in the rules that bars holding elections on a holiday. The allegation that a member cast multiple votes is completely baseless.” He added that the constitution of AWAS requires only 50 eligible voters to be present for a valid election, and no formal complaints were lodged within the 30-day period allowed for raising election-related objections.
He further stated that the Imphal East Additional Deputy Commissioner had also been informed about the election process, and that all procedures were followed transparently.
AWAS, which represents 4,223 cooperative societies across the state, warned that if the Registrar fails to revoke the order, the matter will be taken up with the Governor of Manipur and the Union Ministry of Cooperation.
“The bureaucratic interference in the democratic functioning of cooperative institutions is unacceptable. We are ready to escalate the issue to higher authorities,” Bhobol added.