In response to Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Secretary General Puneet Kumar’s letter to the Council’s Chairman Ashok G Rajani, regarding calling an emergent Executive Committee meeting to discuss matters relating to the election for AEPC Vice-Chairman, Rajani has pointed out that such an urgent meeting may be convened at the discretion of the Chairman, with only a 72 hours’ notice.
In his letter, dated March 9, Rajani stated: “Regarding calling of an Emergent Executive Committee Meeting, without giving mandatory advance notice of 8 days is unfounded. It has been very categorically provided for in Article 60 of AEPC’s Articles of Association that an urgent meeting of the Executive Committee may at discretion of the Chairman be convened by giving 72 hours’ notice.”
On compliance with Para 2.92 (b) of Handbook of Procedures, as contained in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 and in the process of the present election of Vice-Chairman through E-voting, he added: “I would like to bring to your notice that Item No – C has already been taken up by the Executive Committee in its meeting held on March 8, 2016.”
In his letter, he further wrote that it is clear from the Handbook that the Parah only provides the criteria for tenure of post of elected head i.e. Chairman or the President and Vice-Chairman or the Vice-President shall not be more than two years.
There is no direction in the paragraph, at any place in the Handbook of Procedure of the FTP 2015-20, limiting the tenure of Executive Committee members to two years. That elections for the members of its executive committee were conducted as per the provision of Companies Act 2013, FTP 2015-20 & as per provision of Memorandum & Article of Association of AEPC.
Also Read – AR Exclusive: Vice-Chairman’s Election cause for dissension within AEPC
AEPC Chairman referred to a few letters of the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Textiles, and completely justified all the step taken by AEPC regarding the election of its Vice Chairman. “After the guideline of 07.12.2015, the Ministry of Commerce, vide, letter no 14/19/2015-E&MDA dated 15.12.2015 has explained that there is no bar for Members, who have held the post of Vice Chairman in 2015-16 under Para 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedure of FTP 2015-20. However, this provision would come into play for all prospective election after the current one by e-voting…”
