G R Khairnar, former deputy commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been forced to step down as chairman of housing society for flouting cooperative society laws. Deputy registrar of cooperative societies, Maharashtra housing and area development authority (MHADA) had issued an order on August 21 barring him from attending his housing society meetings.

Khairnar had attended one society meeting held on September 5 as a special invitee.

Khairnar, whose wife is a member and appointed chairperson of the society, had allegedly been writing minutes of the meetings and signing documents as chairman. Following complaints from his housing society members, Governance Now had contacted Khairnar. He denied the claims.

“I refused the post of chairman in spite the insistence of members. To fulfill their wishes, my wife became the chairman. The general body (GB) has passed a resolution giving me all authority to carry out affairs of society under rules, regulations and by-laws. The society by-laws allow associate member to act as the chairman,” he said.

He, however, refused to quote the concerned by-law saying that having been the deputy commissioner he is well aware of the laws. When asked why he does not formally engage as chairman of the society he is residing in he said he considered being the chairman of a small cooperative society below his dignity.

His wife Ashalata, the original owner of the flat, was elected chairperson in the society elections. Khairnar, a co-owner of their flat was not even elected to the managing committee, yet chaired meetings on her behalf, took decisions and even signed letters and circulars. He allegedly got his wife to sign minutes of meetings in absentia which included his name as an attendee.

In spite of absence of required quorum, Khairnar is said to have conducted meetings, taken decisions abinitio and not part of agenda. Society members claimed that he never recorded names of members who attended meetings, framed minutes on issues which were not discussed in meetings and circulated them. He is also believed to have dictated terms and whimsically threatened members with expulsion notice.

“Going against redevelopment guidelines issued by GoM on 3rd January 2009, he installed the board of Neumec builders so as to push awarding redevelopment contracts,” said members.

Khairnar is listed as a member of the advisory committee in the Neumec group website.

In light of the above, his role in his housing society becomes dubious as MCS by-laws clearly prohibit this kind of involvement.

“It is a clear case of conflict of interest,” added a member.When asked why he had installed the board of Neumec Builders in a case of conflict of interest, In his defense Khairnar said that he is advising many builders and there is no vested interest in awarding the contract to Neumec. “Only municipal corporation members are prevented from having a contract with builder/ developer and not ordinary members” he justified.