Kerala High Court reinstates Milma board quashed in Sabarimala ghee row

The Kerala High Court Division Bench has quashed the state government order dissolving the board of directors of the Milma Thiruvananthapuram Regional Co-operative Milk Producers' Union, directing its immediate reinstatement. The bench of Justices Dr A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and A.K. Preetha overturned a single-bench verdict that had upheld the Dairy Development Director's decision to dissolve the committee on 25 July over alleged irregularities in Sabarimala ghee distribution.

The court held the dissolution was illegal, noting the Director relied on a Joint Director's report and that the committee members had cooperated with the inquiry without any evidence tampering. It also found the order was passed without consulting the State Co-operative Union as required under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969. The reinstated managing committee will replace the appointed administrator. Milma Chairman K S Mani reiterated that the ghee was packed in sealed 15 kg tins and that full payment was received, adding that if the product was replaced after delivery, those responsible must be prosecuted.

Update, 5 November 2026: Devdiscourse now also reports the reinstatement, carrying the same basic facts as Deccan Chronicle and Asianet News: the Division Bench quashed the government order, observed the dissolution was illegal, and directed immediate reinstatement. It includes Milma Chairman Mani's August press conference statement that the ghee was packed in sealed 15 kg tins and that the federation received full payment, matching the earlier accounts from Deccan Chronicle and Asianet News.