Chandigarh, March 27 Milkfed placed a general manager and two other officials of its dairy unit in Ludhiana under suspension with immediate effect on Friday, following the Army's rejection of a consignment of whole milk powder.
Milkfed supplies whole milk powder, cheese, flavored milk, and other items to the Army.
Notably, the Army had rejected a consignment of whole milk powder from Punjab's dairy cooperative, Milkfed, which sells its products under the Verka brand, after its samples were allegedly found to not meet the prescribed standards.
Three separate orders of suspension were issued by Rahul Gupta, Managing Director of the Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (Milkfed), on Friday, for General Manager, Milk Union, Daljit Singh, Manager (Quality) at Milk Union, Guriqbal Singh, and Manager Production Paritosh Mishra.
The order states, "The management has come to notice that the Indian Army has rejected two consignments of milk powder (58.338 metric tonnes and 66.654 metric tonnes) supplied by the Ludhiana District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd (referred to as Milk Union, Ludhiana) due to the presence of extraneous material in the samples. The Army authorities informed the Milk Union through letters dated February 12, 2026, and March 16, 2025".
This apparent lapse in quality control compromises the organization's credibility and constitutes "major misconduct" under Rule 61.1 (m) (Neglect of work or negligence in the performance of duties) and Rule 61.1 (oo) (Act prejudicial to the organization) of the Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Employees Service Rules 2023.
As disciplinary proceedings are contemplated, Daljit Singh, who is holding the position of General Manager, Milk Union, Ludhiana, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect.
Similar suspension orders have also been issued for the other two officials on the same grounds.
In a communication to the Ludhiana District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union (Verka), the officer commanding the Army Service Corps in Jammu rejected around 125 metric tonnes of whole milk powder consignment comprising 58.338 MT and 66.654 MT.
A copy of the communication was also sent to the Chief Director of Purchase, Ministry of Defence.
Opposition parties' leaders had criticized the AAP government on Thursday over the rejection of the consignment by the Army.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia attacked the Bhagwant Mann government over this issue and said the rejection of such a large quantity by the armed forces raises grave concerns over quality control in a state-run institution.
Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also called the rejection of the milk powder consignment by the Army a "major embarrassment" for the Bhagwant Mann government.