HC: Release results of Mahesh Bank poll

THE COURT also passed a directive that until further orders issue by it; the newly elected directors should not to take any policy decisions, which affect affairs of the bank, including dealing with funds of the society.

Ending the prolonged suspense over declaration of results following polling held on December 20, 2020, to elect 15 new Board of Directors for AP Mahesh Cooperative Bank Limited, Telangana High Court has directed the Returning Officer to announce the results.

The court, however, also passed a directive that until further orders issue by it; the newly elected directors should not to take any policy decisions, which affect affairs of the bank, including dealing with funds of the society. The directors will serve to fulfil only the day-to-day needs of the society, apart from payment of salaries and allowances to bank staff.

Passing the orders, Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao rejected the plea of certain Mahesh Bank members, who sought that the High Court order a re-election by declaring the earlier polls arbitrary.

The judge was dealing with five petitions related to elections held for choosing the new Board of Directors for Mahesh Bank, which is multi-state cooperative bank with operations in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

Elections were held as per the notification on December 20 but counting of votes was abruptly stopped the next day by the Returning Officer.

Following that, three of the contestants Srinivas Asawa, Ramesh Kumar Bung, and Srikanth Inani approached the High Court challenging the withholding of counting. They sought directions that counting be completed and results declared.