Pune: A dispute over signature authority in the Pune Agricultural Produce Market Committee has led to significant operational delays, with government payments pending and the risk of penalties looming.

The situation arose after the Market Committee’s Board of Directors passed a resolution to transfer signature authority from Chairman Dilip Kalbhor to Director Prashant Kalbhor. The resolution, passed on August 7 with a 10-0 vote out of 18 directors, has since caused complications in its implementation.

The Acting Secretary of the Market Committee has sought guidance from the Marketing Director regarding the legality and execution of this resolution. However, the Marketing Director’s lack of response has left the committee in a state of uncertainty, with daily operations at a standstill.

Chairman Dilip Kalbhor has contested the resolution before Divisional Joint Registrar Yogiraj Surve, and the matter is currently under hearing. The ongoing legal uncertainty has led to confusion among the committee’s staff, who are unsure whose instructions to follow, as both factions within the board continue to issue directives.

The Secretary’s letter highlights the legal complexities surrounding the resolution, particularly the provisions under Rule 108, which grants joint signature authority to the Chairman and Secretary for expenditures. The Secretary has questioned whether the Board of Directors has the legal right to reassign this authority through a resolution.

Amidst the deadlock, essential operations like bill payments and check signing have been disrupted. The Secretary has urged the Marketing Director for detailed guidance, emphasizing the urgency of resolving the issue to prevent further operational paralysis.

Marketing Director Vikas Rasal acknowledged receiving the Secretary’s letter and assured that a decision would be made soon after a thorough legal review.