< Previous | Contents | Next >
67. Rights and Liabilities of the Government
68. Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes
The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 gave a constitutional status and protection to co-operative societies. In this context, it made the following three
changes in the constitution:
1. It made the right to form co-operative societies a fundamental right (Article 191 ).
3. It added a new Part IX-B in the Constitution which is entitled "The Co-operative Societies” (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT).
Part IX-B of the constitution contains the following provisions with respect to the cooperative societies:
Incorporation of Co-operative Societies: The state legislature may make provisions for the incorporation, regulation and winding-up of co-operative societies based on the principles of voluntary formation, democratic membercontrol, member- economic participation and autonomous functioning.
Number and Term of Members of Board and its Office Bearers: The board shall consist of such number of directors as may be provided by the state legislature.3 But, the maximum number of directors of a co-operative society shall not exceed twenty-one.
The state legislature shall provide for the reservation of one seat for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes and two seats for women on the board of every co-operative society having members from such a category of persons.
The term of office of elected members of the board and its office bearers shall be five years from the date of election.4
The state legislature shall make provisions for co-option of persons having experience in the field of banking, management, finance or specialisation in any other related field, as members of the board. But, the number of such co-opted members shall not exceed two (in addition to twenty-one directors). Further, the co- opted members shall not have the right to vote in any election of the co-operative society or be eligible to be elected as office bearers of the board.
The functional directors of a co-operative society shall also be the members of the board and such members shall be excluded for the purpose of counting the total number of directors (that is, twenty-one).
EIection of Members of Board: The election of a board shall be conducted before the expiry of the term of the board so as to ensure that the newly elected members assume office
immediately on the expiry of the term of the office of members of the outgoing board.
The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to a co-operative society shall vest in such body, as may be provided by the state legislature.
Supersession and Suspension of Board and Interim Management: No board shall be superseded or kept under suspension for a period exceeding six months.5 The board may be superseded or kept under suspension in case
(i) Of its persistent default
(ii) Of negligence in the performance of its duties
(iii) Of committing any act prejudicial to the interests of the co- operative society or its members
(iv) Of there being a stalement in the constitution or functions of the board
(v) Of the election body having failed to conduct elections in accordance with the provisions of the State Act.
However, the board of any such co-operative society shall not be superseded or kept under suspension where there is no Government shareholding or loan or financial assistance or any guarantee by the Government.
In case of supersession of a board, the administrator appointed to manage the affairs of such a co-operative society shall arrange for conduct of elections within the period of six months and hand- over the management to the elected board.
Audit of Accounts of Co-operative Societies: The state legislature may make provisions for the maintenance of accounts by the co-operative societies and the auditing of such accounts at least once in each financial year. It shall lay down the minimum qualifications and experience of auditors and auditing firms that shall be eligible for auditing the accounts of the co-operative societies.
Every co-operative society shall be audited by an auditor or auditing firm, appointed by the general body of the co-operative society. But, such an auditor or auditing firm shall be appointed
from a panel approved by the State Government or a body authorised by the State Government on this behalf.
The accounts of every co-operative society shall be audited within six months of the close of the financial year.
The audit report of the accounts of an apex co-operative society shall be laid before the state legislature.
Convening of GeneraI Body Meetings: The state legislature may provide that the annual general body meeting of every co- operative society shall be convened within a period of six months of the close of the financial year. Right of a Member to Get Information: The state legislature may provide for access to every member of a co-operative society to the books, information and accounts of the co-operative society. It may also make provisions to ensure the participation of members in the management of the co-operative society. Further, it may provide for co-operative education and training for its members.
Returns: Every co-operative society shall file returns, within six months of the close of every financial year, to the authority designated by the State Government. These returns shall include the following matters:
(a) Annual report of its activities
(b) Its audited statement of accounts
(c) Plan for surplus disposal as approved by the general body of the co-operative society
(d) List of amendments to the by-laws of the co-operative society
(e) Declaration regarding date of holding of its general body meeting and conduct of elections when due
(f) Any other information required by the Registrar in pursuance of any of the provisions of the State Act.6
Offences and PenaIties: The state legislature may make provisions for the offences relating to the co-operative societies and penalties for such offences. Such a law shall include the commission or omission of the following acts as offences:
(a) A co-operative society wilfully makes a false return or furnishes false information
(b) Any person wilfully disobeys any summon, requisition or order issued under the State Act
(c) Any employer who, without sufficient cause, fails to pay to a co-operative society the amount deducted from its employee within a period of fourteen days
(d) Any officer who wilfully fails to handover custody of books, accounts, documents, records, cash, security and other property belonging to a co-operative society to an authorised person
(e) Any person who adopts corrupt practices before, during or after the election of members of the board or office bearers.
AppIication to MuIti-state Co-operative Societies: The provisions of this part shall apply to the multi-state co-operative societies subject to the modification that any reference to the "State Legislature”, "State Act” or "State Government” shall be construed as a reference to "Parliament”, "Central Act” or "Central Government” respectively.
AppIication to Union Territories: The provisions of this part shall apply to the Union territories. But, the President may direct that the provisions of this part shall not apply to any Union territory or part thereof as he may specify in the notification.
Continuance of Existing Laws: Any provision of any law relating to co-operative societies in force in a state immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Ninetyseventh Amendment) Act, 2011, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this part, shall continue to be in force until amended or repealed or until the expiration of one year from such commencement, whichever is less.7