Handloom employees strike tough stand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 07 2025: A complaint against the Registrar of Cooperative Societies will be submitted to the Union Minister of Cooperation if he doesn't revoke his recent order dissolving the Board of Directors of AWAS, weavers societies have said.

The Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicraft Artisans Cooperative Society Limited (AWAS) is an apex body of 4223 weavers' cooperative societies.

Speaking to reporters at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal today, AWAS' former vice president, Shougaijam Bhubon alleged that the newly appointed Registrar of Societies, Waikhom Ibohal has wrongfully declared the elections of the BoDs of AWAS held last year null and void.

Bhubon said the election of the BoDs was held during a General Body Meeting of the AWAS on July 5, 2024, and it was formally announced by the then Registrar through a notice.

After the issuance of the notice, the Board of Directors held its first meeting on August 30, 2024 and the president and vice president of the AWAS were elected in presence of a Returning Officer sent by the then Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

With the approval from the Registrar, the apex body had been functioning for over a year, Bhubon said.

However, the newly appointed Registrar of the Cooperatives Societies, Waikhom Ibohal issued an order on July 2, 2025 declaring the July 5, 2024 election of the Board of Directors null and void, and dissolved the BoDs.

The Registrar has claimed that the BoDs was dissolved on the ground that the election was held on a public holiday, and more than one member of a society voted in the election, Bhubon said.

However, these claims of the new Registrar have no basis.

There is no Act or law in India that prohibits elections on Sundays or holidays.

Further, the election was held after the approval of the Additional District Magistrate of Imphal East, and in presence of adequate security personnel, Bhubon said.

While the bye-law of the AWAS mandates presence of at least 50 delegations of 50 societies, the election was attended by more than 300 delegates.

Moreover, it was overseen by the then Registrar himself in person.

Declaring such an election null and void is unfair and unjust.

The order of the newly appointed Registrar must be revoked immediately, Bhubon said.

Further, not a single member of a society voted more than once.

There may be two or more societies sharing the same name, but their registration numbers are different and their area of operations are different.

The charges mentioned in the order dissolving the BoDs are allegations that have no basis, Bhubon added.

After the election of the BoDs, the apex body of the cooperative societies had been functioning for over a year.

If the order declaring the election null and void is not revoked, a complaint will be filed with the Union Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, Bhubon said.

In light of the "attempt to undermine the apex body of the weavers and harm weavers' community", the societies have formed "AWAS Protection Committee".

The committee will spearhead all campaigns to protect the apex body and weavers' societies, Bhubon added.

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