It is a bad omen. This way or the other. When an important organisation is mired in internal bickerings, the purpose with which it is set up loses significance.
The name of the Indian Red Cross Society (Karnataka) has been in the news but for bad reasons. Its main job is to recruit, train volunteers to assume larger responsibilities. How can its managing committee members motivate youth to join as volunteers when they are busy fighting and filing criminal cases against each other?
The story goes like this. Basrur Rajeev Shetty, who was the vice-chairman of the state branch, got elected unanimously as the chairman on April 1 last year for a three-year term.
There were no hiccups initially and the real trouble has started now. The Society is a divided house with two warring factions, one led by its chairman Basrur Rajeev Shetty and the other led by its vice-chairman Madhura Ashok Kumar.
The differences cropped up when Shetty issued a show-cause notice to the general secretary SN Gowrishankar on September 28 last year. In the notice, he alleged that Gowrishankar was not following office procedure and the general secretary was also accused of going on leave frequently, without prior permission.
Subsequently, Shetty convened a meeting of the managing committee meeting on February 20 this year to discuss selection of honorary treasurer. The post had fallen vacant following the death of Subash Reddy Patil in a train mishap.
But some members insisted the meeting to discuss a private complaint filed against Shetty in a Udupi civil court. The chairman said the issue was not part of the agenda and expectedly, chaos prevailed at the meeting and the chairman adjourned the meeting and left the venue in a hurry.
On February 26, the chairman issued a notice, terminating Gowrishankar's services, citing many reasons for his ouster. He also served a notice to Dr D Rajashekharappa, blood bank medical officer, advising him to handover the charge to Dr Arpitha Desai, blood bank medical officer, since he had already attained the age of superannuation.
The whole drama took an interesting turn at this juncture.
The other group led by MA Kumar, claimed that they have already removed the chairman during a meeting held on February 20. So, the chairman had no powers to initiate any action.
In a letter to Shetty on February 28, Kumar said, "You have been removed from the chairmanship of the Society and you have also been suspended from the membership of the managing committee. The meeting, Kumar claimed, was held on February 20. "Hence you have ceased to be the chairman of the Society. Therefore the letter issued by you to oust Rajashekharappa and Gowrishankar is without any authority and is against the rules and regulations of the Society."
On March 5, 2014, Shetty filed a non-cognizable complaint with High Grounds Police Station seeking police protection, alleging his life was under threat.
Meanwhile, Shetty's supporters approached City Civil and Sessions Court seeking an injunction on his opponent's actions. The Sessions Court issued an injunction order. Defying the oder, Kumar conducted a meeting and elected SP Dinesh as chairman of the Society. "It amounts to contempt of court. I will file a case," Shetty said.
When contacted, Kumar said the managing committee of the Society has high regards for the judiciary, "We have not violated the court order,'' Kumar said.
According to advocate CG Malayil, violation of interim injunction order will amount to contempt of court. "The punishment will attract six months imprisonment," the advocate said.
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