Special Milk Auditor denies information on SUMUL’s administrative expenses under RTI

Surat (Gujarat) [India]: The Special Milk Auditor and District Registrar of Cooperative Societies have resisted disclosing information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the administrative expenses and initiatives undertaken by the Surat District Co-Operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (SUMUL).

Darshan Naik, co-operative and farmers leader had an RTI application with the Special Milk Auditor and District Registrar of Co-Operative Societies seeking information regarding the administrative expenses, projects undertaken and the income from the advertisements by SUMUL between the period January 29, 2022, to February 1, 2022

Naik sought information in his application about the advantage accrued to SUMUL members and livestock owners in the district by the SUMUL management from advertising revenue and the project conducted from January 29, 2022 to February 1, 2022.

Rejecting the application, the Special Milk Auditor stated “since the information is related to SUMUL it is rejected”.

Darshan Naik, co-operative and farmers’ leader, told TBT, “The application was not intended to jeopardise the organization’s name.” Previously, the special milk auditor replied favourably to RTI requests involving SUMUL. The special milk auditor supplied the audit para reports for the last three years of SUMUL in response to an RTI request filed on February 3, 2022. There was no justification to deny my RTI request for information on administrative expenses and projects, as well as revenue from advertising.”

“How come the special milk auditor has established such a double standard policy?” inquires Naik. Are audit department officers profiting from SUMUL? Why are members not provided with information pursuant to the RTI Act? , Isn’t the milk auditor and district registrar accountable regarding administrative records on the cooperative societies’ expenses and income?, Has SUMUL being mismanaged? , Is there a flaw in the organization’s administration? Is the administration corrupt?, Has the organisation squandered crores of rupees on its projects? Etc.

“The former director and present chairman of SUMUL, Mansinh Patel had sent the complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the former SUMUL Chairman alleging Rs 1,000 crore corruption,” said Naik.