A former employee of the Chennai-based multi-state co-operative society, Indian Medical Practitioners Co-op Pharmacy and Stores Ltd (IMPCOPS) has urged Union agriculture and cooperation minister Sharad Pawar to remove the IMPCOPS president, on the basis of an enquiry report by the additional registrar of co-operative societies, Tamil Nadu, saying that continuous possession of office by the president may cause tampering of records.

M Evanson, a former employee of the society, who was sacked along with other 32 employees by the president, had earlier given a complaint to the Central Registrar of Co-operative Societies, New Delhi against Dr A Ramalingam, president of IMPCOPS, saying that he was acting against the provisions of the amended by-law of the Society and against section 43(1) of state co-operative societies act.

The Central Registrar forwarded the complaint to the state registrar of co-operative societies who in turn directed the special officer at the agricultural co-operative bank in Chennai to conduct an enquiry. On completing the enquiry, the special officer has written to the state registrar that a lot of improper and illegal activities have clouded IMPCOPS, hence an administrative officer should be appointed to run the organisation.

In a letter to the union minister, Evanson has requested that immediate action be initiated against Dr Ramalingam based on the enquiry report as there are chances of mounting illegal activities due to his continuation in office.

According to his complaint, the president of IMPCOPS is holding a post at the Board of Governors of a Tanjore based herbal medicine manufacturing company (Periyar TBI), which is against the Rule 39 of the by-law of the IMPCOPS. Based on this complaint, the enquiry officer has written to the registrar that Dr Ramalingam has lost the capacity to operate as head of IMPCOPS.

Evanson’s complaint to the Central Registrar says that when IMPCOPS is having an own building in a prominent place in Trichy, the president has taken on rent another room for running IMPCOPS store which incurs huge loss to the Society, due to monthly rent. The enquiry officer has opined that the change of premises is an improper action and contrary to the rules prescribed under Co-operative Societies Act. The report says that there is no proof for rent being paid.

Another allegation made by Evanson is that the president of the Society, without any human consideration, has sacked 32 employees including doctors from services. In respect of this allegation, the enquiry officer has the impression that Dr Ramalingam has taken wrong actions on the employees, and opined that such punitive actions should not be taken by a person of the president’s calibre.

The secretary, additional secretary and senior manager of the institution were included in the list of sacked employees.