Kerala HC reinstates Milma Thiruvananthapuram Union dissolved over Sabarimala ghee controversy
Summary
- The Kerala High Court's Division Bench set aside the Registrar of Co-operative Societies' order that had upheld the dissolution of Milma Thiruvananthapuram Union.
- The union was dissolved by the Kerala government in 2023 following a controversy over the sale of ghee allegedly sourced from Sabarimala temple premises.
- The court held that due process under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 was not complied with, rendering the dissolution illegal.
- Milma Thiruvananthapuram Union, a subsidiary of the state dairy cooperative Milma, now resumes its operations and financial activities.
- The judgment underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding cooperative autonomy and procedural fairness.
Key Facts
- · The order quashed was issued by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Kerala.
- · The case was heard by a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court.
- · The dissolution was originally justified on grounds of alleged violation of the Sabarimala temple's sanctity.
- · Milma is Kerala's state-run dairy cooperative, with the Thiruvananthapuram Union being one of its major branches.
- · The court cited non‑compliance with Section 23 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
Why it matters
The verdict reaffirms the legal safeguards for cooperative societies, emphasizing that government actions against such entities must strictly follow statutory procedures, a principle vital for governance and the cooperative sector's stability across India.
#Kerala High Court#Cooperative societies#Milma#Sabarimala controversy#Judicial review#State policy