T’puram: The state human rights commission (SHRC) has pulled up cooperative department for failing to act on irregularities in cooperative societies in time, observing that timely intervention could have prevented large-scale violations. SHRC acted on petitions filed by Vellanad natives Balachandra Menon and Babu.SHRC chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas directed registrar of cooperative societies to conduct stringent audits and inspections across all societies and initiate firm measures to prevent recurrence of such irregularities.The order came on a complaint regarding non-return of deposits to investors in Mundela Rajiv Gandhi Residence Welfare Cooperative Society. A report submitted by joint registrar flagged serious irregularities in the society. It said a case has been registered at Aruvikkara police station against 16 persons, including governing body members and officials. The crime branch is probing investor complaints.As per the report, the society owes around Rs 42 crore to investors, while about Rs 37 crore is yet to be recovered through other channels.
