Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to cooperative societies with objects not confined to one State and serving the interests of members in more than one State.

Be it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:

1.     This Act may be called the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.

2.     It extends to the whole of India.

3.     It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

This Act shall apply to :

a.     All cooperative societies, with objects not confined to one State, which were incorporated before the commencement of this Act,

              i.        under the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912, or

             ii.        under any other law relating to cooperative societies in force in any State or in pursuance of the Multi-unit Cooperative Societies Act, 1942, and the registration of which has not been cancelled before such commencement; and

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b.    all multi-State cooperative societies.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

a.     "board" means the board of directors or the governing body of a multi-State cooperative society by whatever name called, to which the direction and control of the management of the affairs of the society is entrusted;

b.    "bye-laws" means the bye-laws for the time being in force which have been duly registered under this Act and includes amendments thereto which have been duly registered under this Act;

c.     "Central Registrar" means the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies appointed under sub-section (1) of section 4 and includes any officer empowered to exercise the powers of the Central Registrar under sub-section (2) of that section;

d.    "Chief Executive" means a Chief Executive of a multi-State cooperative society appointed under section 44;

e.     "cooperative bank" means a multi-State cooperative society which undertakes banking business;

f.     "cooperative principles" means the cooperative principles specified in the First Schedule;

g.    "cooperative society" means a society registered or deemed to be registered under any law relating to cooperative societies for the time being in force in any State;

h.     "cooperative year", in relation to any multi-State cooperative society or class of such societies, means the year ending on the 30th day of June and where the accounts of such society or class of such societies are, with the previous sanction of the Central Registrar, balanced on any other day, the year ending on such day;

i.      "Deposit Insurance Corporation" means the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation established under section 3 of the Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 1961;

j.      "member" means a person joining in the application for the registration of a multi-State cooperative Society and includes a person admitted to membership after such registration in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the rules and the bye-laws;

k.     "multi-State cooperative society" means a society registered or deemed to be registered under this Act and includes a national cooperative society;

l.      "multi-State cooperative society with limited liability" means a society having the liability of its members limited by its bye-laws to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively, held by them or to such amount as they may, respectively, there-by undertake to contribute to the assets of the society, in the event of its being wound up;

m.   "national cooperative society" means a multi-State cooperative society specified in the Second Schedule;

n.     "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

o.    "officer" means a president, vice-president, chairman, vice-chairman, managing director, secretary, manager, member of a board, treasurer, liquidator, an administrator appointed under section 48 and includes any other person empowered under this Act or the rules or the bye-laws to give directions in regard to the business of multi-state cooperative society;

p.    "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules;

q.    "Reserve Bank" means the Reserve Banks of India constituted under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934;

r.      "rules" means the rules made under this Act,

1.     The Central Government may appoint a person to be the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies and may appoint such other persons as it may think fit to assist the Central Registrar.

2.     The Central Government may, by notification, direct that any power exercisable by the Central Registrar under this Act (other than the power of registration of a multi-State cooperative society) shall in relation to such society, and such matters as may be specified in the notification be exercisable also by any other officer of the Central Government or of a State Government as may be authorised by the Central Government subject to such conditions as may be specified there in;

Provided that no officer of a State Government shall be empowered to exercise such power in relation to a national cooperative society;

Provided further that no officer of a State Government below the rank of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies shall be empowered to exercise any power exercisable by the Central Registrar under Section 87.

1.     No multi-State cooperative society shall be registered under this Act, unless the main objects of the society are to serve the interests of members in more than one State.

2.     Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), a multi-State cooperative society, which has as its objects the promotion of the economic and social betterment of its members through mutual aid in accordance with the cooperative principles or a multi-State cooperative society established with the object of facilitating the operations of other such societies or of cooperative societies or of both may be registered under this Act.

3.     The word "Limited" or its equivalent in any Indian language shall be suffixed to the name of every multi-state cooperative society registered under this Act with limited liability.

1.     For the purposes of registration of a multi-state cooperative society under this Act, an application shall be made to the Central Registrar in such form and with such particulars as may be prescribed.

2.     The application shall be signed -

a.     in the case of a multi-State cooperative society of which all the members are individuals, by at least fifty persons from each of the States concerned;

b.    in the case of a multi-State cooperative society of which the members are cooperative societies, by duly authorised representatives on behalf of at least two such societies as are not registered in the same state; and

c.     in the case of a multi-State cooperative society of which another multi-State cooperative society and other cooperative societies are members, by duly authorised representatives of each of such societies;

Provided that not less than two of the cooperative societies referred to in clause (b) or clause (c) as the case may be, shall be such as are not registered in the same State.

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3.     The application shall be accompanied by four copies of the proposed bye-laws of the multi-State cooperative society and the persons by whom or on whose behalf such application is made shall furnish such information in regard to the society as the Central Registrar may require.

1.     If the Central Registrar is satisfied -

a.     that the application complies with the provisions of this Act and the rules;

b.    that the proposed multi-State cooperative society satisfies the basic criterion that its objects are to serve the interests of members in more than one State;

c.     that there is no other multi-State cooperative society having similar area of operation and identical objects;

d.    that the proposed bye-laws are not contrary to the provisions of this Act and the rules; and

e.     that the proposed multi-State cooperative society has reasonable prospects of becoming a viable unit, he may register the multi-State cooperative society and its bye-laws.

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2.     Where the Central Registrar refuses to register a multi-State cooperative society, he shall communicate the order of refusal together with the reasons therefor, to such number of the applicants and in such manner as may be prescribed.

3.     The application for registration shall be disposed of by the Central Registrar within a period of six months from the date of receipt thereof by him:

Provided that if the Central Registrar is unable to dispose of the application within the period aforesaid, he shall make a report to the Central Government stating therein the reasons for his inability to do so, and the Central Government may allow him such further period or periods as is considered necessary to dispose of such application.

Where a multi-State cooperative society is registered under this Act, the Central Registrar shall issue a certificate of registration signed by him, which shall be conclusive evidence that the society therein mentioned is duly registered under this Act, unless it is proved that the registration of the society has been cancelled.

1.     No amendment of any bye-laws of a multi-State Cooperative society shall be valid, unless such amendment has been registered under this Act.

2.     Every proposal for such amendment shall be forwarded to the Central Registrar and if the Central Registrar is satisfied that the proposed amendment -

a.     is not contrary to the provisions of this Act or of the rules;

b.    does not conflict with cooperative principles; and

c.     will promote the economic interests of the members of the multi-State cooperative society, he may register the amendment within a period of six months from the date of receipt thereof by him.

Provided that if the Central Registrar is unable to register the amendment within the period aforesaid he shall make a report to the Central Government stating therein the reasons for his inability to do so, and the Central Government may allow him such further period or periods as is considered necessary to register the amendment.

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3.     The Central Registrar shall forward to the multi-State cooperative society a copy of the registered amendment together with a certificate signed by him and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the amendment has been duly registered.

4.     Where the Central Registrar refuses to register an amendment of the bye-laws of a multi-State cooperative society, he shall communicate the order of refusal together with the reasons therefor to the Chief Executive of the society in the manner prescribed within seven days from the date of such refusal.

An amendment of the bye-laws of a multi-State Cooperative society shall, unless it is expressed to come into operation on a particular day, come into force on the day on which it is registered.

1.     A multi-State cooperative society may, by an amendment of its bye-laws, change its name but such change shall not affect any right or obligaton of the multi-State cooperative society or of any of its members or past members, and any legal proceedings which might have been continued or commenced by or against the multi-State cooperative society by its former name may be continued or commenced by or against its new name.

2.     Where a multi-State cooperative society changes its name, the Central Registrar shall enter the new name on the register of multi-State cooperative societies in place of the former name and shall amend the certificate of registration accordingly.

Every multi-State cooperative society shall have a principal place of business and an address registered in the manner prescribed to which all notices and communications may be sent and any change in the principal place of business of a multi-State cooperative society shall be made with the previous approval of the Central Registrar.

1.     No multi-State cooperative society with unlimited liability shall be registered after the commencement of this Act:

Provided that where a multi-unit cooperative society with unlimited liability was functioning before the commencement of this Act, such a society shall exercise the option within a period of one year from such commencement either to continue to function as such or to convert itself into a multi-State cooperative society with limited liability by following the procedure specified in sub-sections (2) to (4).

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2.     Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules, a multi-unit cooperative society may, by an amendment of its bye-laws, change the extent of its liability.

3.     When a multi-unit cooperative society has passed a resolution to change the extent of its liability, it shall give notice thereof in writing to all its members and creditors, and, notwithstanding anything contained in the bye-laws or contract to the contrary, any member or creditor shall, during the period of one month from the date of service of the notice upon him, have the option of withdrawing his shares, deposits or loans, as the case may be.

4.     Any member or creditor who does not exercise his option within the period specified in sub-section (3) shall be deemed to have assented to the change.

5.     An amendment of a bye-law of a multi-unit cooperative society changing the extent of its liability shall not be registered or shall not take effect until either-

a.     the assent thereto of all members and creditors has been obtained: or

b.    all claims of members and creditors who exercise the option referred to in sub-section (3) within the period specified therein have been met in full or otherwise satisfied.

1.     A multi-State cooperative society may, with the prior consultation of the Central Registrar and by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting of the society held for the purpose,-

a.     transfer its assets and liabilities in whole or in part to any other multi-State cooperative society or cooperative society;

b.    divide itself into two or more multi-State cooperative societies;

c.     divide itself into two or more cooperative societies.

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2.     Any two or more multi-State cooperative societies may, with the prior consultation of the Central Registrar and by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting of each such society, amalgamate themselves and form a new multi-State cooperative society.

3.     The resolution of a multi-State cooperative society under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall contain all particulars of the transfer or division or amalgamation, as the case may be: Provided that in the case of a cooperative bank, the Central Registrar shall not accord approval to any such resolution without the previous sanction in writing of the Reserve Bank.

4.     When a multi-State cooperative society has passed a resolution under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), it shall give notice thereof in writing to all the members and creditors and, notwithstanding anything contained in the bye-laws or contract to the contrary, any member or creditor, shall, during the period of one month of the date of service of the notice upon him, have the option of withdrawing his shares, deposits or loans, as the case may be.

5.     Any member or creditor who does not exercise his option within the period specified in sub-section (4) shall be deemed to have assented to the proposals contained in the resolution.

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a.     A resolution passed by a multi-State cooperative society under this section shall not take effect until the assent thereto of all the members and creditors has been obtained.

b.    The multi-State cooperative society shall make arrangements for meeting in full or otherwise satisfying all claims of the members and creditor who exercise the option within the period specified in sub-section (4).

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7.     On receipt of an application for the registration of new societies formed by division in accordance with the resolution passed under sub-section (1) or of a new society formed by amalgamation in accordance with the resolution passed under sub-section (2), the Central Registrar, on being satisfied that the resolution has become effective under sub-section (6) shall, unless for reasons to be recorded in writing he thinks fit to refuse so to do, register the new societies or society, as the case may be, and the bye-laws thereof.

8.     On the issue of an order under sub-section (7), the provisions of section 17 shall; so far as may be, apply to the multi-State cooperative society so divided or the multi-State cooperative societies so amalgamated.

9.     Where a resolution passed by a multi-State Cooperative Society under this section involves the transfer of any assets and liabilities, the resolution shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, be a sufficient conveyance to vest the assets and liabilities in the transferee without any further assurance.

When an order of moratorium has been made by the Central Government under sub-section (2) of section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 in respect of a cooperative bank, the Central Registrar, with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank in writing, may, during the period of moratorium, prepare a scheme -

a.     for the amalgamation of the cooperative bank with any other cooperative bank; or

b.    for the reorganisation of the cooperative bank.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 14 or any other provision of this Act, were a cooperative bank, being an insured bank within the meaning of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, is amalgamated or reorganised and the Deposit Insurance Corporation has become liable to pay to the depositors of the insured bank under sub-section (2) of section 16 of the Act, the bank with which such insured bank is amalgamated, or the new cooperative bank found after such amalgamation, or, as the case may be, the insured bank or transferee bank shall be under an obligation to repay to the Deposit Insurance Corporation in the circumstances, to the extent and in the manner referred to in section 21 of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961.

1.     Where the whole of the assets and liabilities of a multi-state cooperative society are transferred to another multi-State cooperative society or to a cooperative society in accordance with the provisions of section 14, the registration of the first mentioned multi-State cooperative society shall stand cancelled and the society shall be deemed to have been dissolved and shall cease to exist as a corporate body.

2.     Where two or more multi-State cooperative societies are amalgamated into a new multi-State cooperative society in accordance with the provisions of section 14, the registration of each of the amalgamating societies shall stand cancelled on the registration of the new society, and each of the amalgamating societies shall be deemed to have been dissolved and shall cease to exist as a corporate body.

3.     Where a multi-State cooperative society divides itself into two or more multi-State cooperative societies or two or more cooperative societies in accordance with the provisions of section 14, registration of that society shall stand cancelled on the registration of the new societies, and that society shall be deemed to have been dissolved and shall cease to exist as a corporate body.

4.     The amalgamation or division of multi-State cooperative societies shall not in any manner whatsoever effect any right or obligation of the resulting multi-State cooperative society or societies or render defective any legal proceedings by or against the multi-State cooperative society or societies, and any legal proceedings that might have been continued or commenced by or against the multi-State cooperative society or societies, as the case may be, before the amalgamation or division may be continued or commenced by or against the resulting multi-State cooperative society or societies.

18. Conversion of cooperative society into multi-State Cooperative Society.-

1.     A cooperative society may, by an amendment of its bye-laws, extend its jurisdiction and convert itself into a multi-State cooperative society:

Provided that no such amendment of bye-laws of a cooperative society shall be valid unless it has been registered by the Central Registrar.

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a.     Every proposal for such amendment shall be forwarded to the Central Registrar.

b.    If the Central Registrar, after consulting the Registrars of Cooperative Societies of the States concerned, has satisfied himself that such amendment fulfils the requirement of sub-section (2) of section 9, he may register the amendment within a period of six months from the date of receipt thereof by him:

Provided that if the Central Registrar is unable to register the amendment within the period aforesaid, he shall make a report to the Central Government stating therein the reasons for his inability to do so, and the Central Government may allow him such further period or periods as is considered necessary to register the amendment.

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3.     The Central Registrar shall forward to the cooperative society a copy of the registered amendment together with a certificate signed by him and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the amendment has been registered.

4.     Where the Central Registrar refuses to register an amendment of the bye-laws of a cooperative society, he shall communicate the order of refusal together with the reasons therefor to the society in the manner prescribed within seven days from the date of refusal.

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a.     Once the amendment of bye-laws has been registered by the Central Registrar, the cooperative society shall, as from the date of registration of amendment, become a multi-State cooperative society.

b.    The Central Registrar shall forward to the cooperative society a certificate signed by him to the effect that such society has been registered as a multi-State cooperative society under this Act and also forward a copy of the same to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies of the State concerned.

c.     The Registrar of Cooperative Societies referred to in clause (b) shall thereupon make an order directing that the society had, as from the date of registration by the Central Registrar, ceased to be a society under the law relating to cooperative societies in force in that State.

1.     No person shall be admitted as member of a multi-State cooperative society except the following, namely :-

a.     an individual competent to contract under section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872;

b.    any multi-State cooperative society or any cooperativesociety;

c.     the Central Government;

d.    a State Government;

e.     the National Cooperative Development Corporation established under the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act,1962;

f.     any other corporation owned or controlled by Government;

g.    any Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956;

h.     such class or classes of persons or association of persons as may be permitted by the Central Registrar having regard to the nature and activities of a multi-State cooperative society;

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2.     Such number of individuals possessing such qualifications as may be prescribed may be admitted as members of the National Cooperative Union of India Limited, New Delhi.

3.     Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2) and notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) no individual shall be eligible for admission as a member of a national cooperative society.

4.     Any person eligible for membership of a multi-State cooperative society may, on his application, be admitted as a member by such society.

5.     Every application for admission as a member of a multi-State cooperative society shall be disposed of by such society within a period of four months from the date of receipt of the application, and the decision of such society on the application shall be communicated to the applicant within fifteen days from the date of such decision:

Provided that if the application is not disposed of within the period aforesaid, or the decision is not communicated within a period of fifteen days of the expiry of the aforesaid period of four months, the multi-state cooperative society shall be deemed to have made a decision, on the date of expiry of such period, refusing admission to the applicant.

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6.     Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Central Government may, having regard to the fact that the interest of any person or class of persons conflicts or is likely to conflict with the objects of any multi-State cooperative society or class of multi-State cooperative societies, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, declare that any person or class of persons engaged in or carrying on any profession, business or employment shall be disqualified from being admitted, or for continuing, as members or shall be eligible for membership only to a limited extent of any specified multi-State cooperative society or class of multi-State cooperative societies, so long as such person or persons is or are engaged in or carrying on that profession, business or employment, as the case may be.

No member of a multi-State cooperative society shall exercise the rights of a member, unless he has made such payments to the society in respect of membership, or has acquired such interest in the society, as may be specified in the bye-laws.

1.     A multi-State cooperative society may, by resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting of members held for the purpose, expel a member for acts which are detrimental to the proper working of the society;

Provided that the member concerned shall not be expelled unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of making representation in the matter.

2.     No member of the multi-State cooperative society who has been expelled under sub-section(1) shall be eligible for readmission as a member of that society, for a period of three years from the date of such expulsion:

Provided that the Central Registrar may, on application of the multi-State cooperative society and if satisfied that in the special circumstances of the case, it is necessary so to do in the interests of the multi-State cooperative society, sanction the re-admission or admission within the said period, of any such members as a member of the said society.

Every member of a multi-State Cooperative society, including a member who is an employee of such society, shall have one vote in the affairs of the society

Provided that �

a.     a member who is an employee of such society shall not be entitled to vote -

              i.        at an election of a member of the board of such society.

             ii.        in any general meeting convened for framing the bye-laws of such society or any amendments thereto:

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b.    in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote;

c.     where any of the authorities referred to in clauses (c) to (g) of sub-section (1) of section 19 is a member of a Multi-State cooperative society, each person nominated by such authority, on the board, in accordance with the provisions contained in this Act and the rules, shall have one vote;

d.    a multi-State cooperative society, the members of which include cooperative societies or other multi-State cooperative societies, may provide for an equitable system of voting having regard to the membership of, and the extent of business carried on by such cooperative societies, or multi-State cooperative societies and other relevant circumstances.

Every member of a multi-State cooperative society shall exercise his vote in person and no member shall be permitted to vote by proxy:

Provided that a multi-State cooperative society or a cooperative society which is a member of another multi-State cooperative society, may, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 29 and the rules, appoint its representative to vote on its behalf in the affairs of that other society.

No member, other than any of the authorities referred to in clauses (c) to (g) of sub-section (1) of section 19 or a multi-State cooperative society or a cooperative society, shall hold more than such portion of the total share capital of the society (in no case exceeding one-fifth thereof) as may be prescribed;

Provided that the Central Government may, by notification, specify in respect of any class of societies a higher or lower maximum than one-fifth of the share capital.

The transfer of the share or interest of a member in the capital of a multi-State cooperative society shall be subject to such conditions as to maximum holding as are specified in section 24.

Shares held in a multi-State Cooperative society by any of the authorities referred to in clauses (c) to (g) of sub-section (1) of section 19 shall be redeemable in accordance with the bye-laws of such multi-State cooperative society and in a case where the bye-laws do not contain any provision in this regard, in such manner as may be agreed upon between the multi-State cooperative society and such authority.

1.     On the death of a member of multi-State cooperative society may transfer the share or interest of the deceased member to the person nominated in accordance with the rules made in this behalf, or if there is no person so nominated to such person as may appear to the board to be the heir or legal representative of the deceased member, or pay to such nominee, heir or legal representative, as the case may be, a sum representing the value of such members share or interest as ascertained in accordance with the rules;

Provided that no such transfer or payment shall be made except with the consent of the nominee, heir or legal representative, as the case may be;

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2.     A multi-State cooperative society shall, unless within six months of the death of the member prevented by an order of a competent court, pay to such nominee, heir or legal representative, as the case may be, all other moneys due to the deceased member from the society.

3.     All transfer and payments made by a multi-State cooperative society in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be valid and effectual against any demand made upon the society by any other person.

1.     Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the liability of a past member or of the estate of a deceased member of a multi-State cooperative society for the debts of the society as they existed; -

a.     in the case of a past member, on the date on which he ceased to be a member,

b.    in the case of a deceased member, on the date of his death, shall continue for a period of two years from such date.

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2.     Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section(1), where a multi-State cooperative society is ordered to be wound up under section 77, the liability of a past member who ceased to be a member or of the estate of a deceased member who died within two years immediately preceding the date of the order of winding up, shall continue until the entire liquidation proceedings are completed but such liability shall extend only to the debts of the society as they existed on the date of cessation of membership or death, as the case may be.

1.     The general body of a multi-State cooperative society shall consist of all the members of such society;

Provided that where the bye-laws of a multi-State cooperative society provide for the constitution of a smaller body consisting of delegates of members of the society elected or selected in accordance with such byelaws, that smaller body shall exercise such powers of the general body as may be prescribed or as may be specified in the bye-laws of the society.

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2.     Subject to the provisions of this Act, the rules and the bye-laws, the ultimate authority of a multi-State cooperative society shall vest in the general body of its members:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the exercise by the board or any officer of a multi-State cooperative society of any power conferred on such board or such officer by this Act or the rules or the bye-laws.

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3.     Where in any meeting of the general body or the board of a multi-State cooperative society, a cooperative society or another multi-State cooperative society is to be represented, such cooperative society or other multi-State cooperative society shall be represented in such meeting only through the Chairman or the Chief Executive of such cooperative society or other multi-State cooperative society, as the case may be, and where there is no board or such cooperative society or other multi-State cooperative society, for whatever reasons, through the administrator, by whatever name called, of such cooperative society or other multi-State cooperative society.

1.     Every multi-State cooperative society shall, within such period as may be prescribed, after the close of the year, call a general meeting of its members in the manner prescribed for the purpose of -

a.     consideration of the audit report and annual report;

b.    disposal of net profits;

c.     approval of the programme of activities for the ensuing year;

d.    amendment of bye-laws;

e.     election, if any, of the members of the board, other than nominated members, subject to the provisions of section 35;

Provided that the Central Registrar may by general and special order, extend the period for holding such meeting for a further period not exceeding three months.

Provided further that if in the opinion of the Central Registrar no such extension is necessary or such meeting is not called by the multi-State cooperative society within the extended period, if any, granted by him, the Central Registrar or any person authorised by him in this behalf may call such meeting in the manner prescribed, and that meeting shall be deemed to be a general meeting duly called by the society and the Central Registrar may order that expenditure incurred in calling such a meeting shall be paid out of the funds of the society or by such person or persons who, in the opinion of the Central Registrar, was or were responsible for the refusal or failure to convene the general meeting.

2.     At every annual general meeting of a multi-State cooperative society the board shall lay before the society a statement showing the details of the loans or goods on credit, if any, given to any of the members of the board or to the spouse or a son or daughter of a member of the board during the preceding year or outstanding against him or against such spouse or son or daughter of the member of the board.

1.     The Chief Executive may, at any time, on the direction of the board, call a special general meeting of the society and shall call such meeting within one month after the receipt of a requisition in writing from the Central Registrar or from such member or members or a proportion of the total number of members, as may be provided in the bye-laws.

2.     If a special general meeting of a multi-State cooperative society is not called in accordance with the requisition referred to in sub-section (1), the Central Registrar or any person authorised by him in this behalf shall have the power to call such meeting and that meeting shall be deemed to be a meeting called by the Chief Executive in accordance with the provisions of that sub-section and the Central Registrar may order that the expenditure incurred in calling such meeting shall be paid out of the funds of the society or by such person or persons who, in the opinion of the Central Registrar, was or were responsible for the refusal or failure to convene the special general meeting.

Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules, there shall be a board of directors for every multi-State cooperative society consisting of such number of members as may be provided for under the bye-laws.

Every multi-State cooperative society shall devise such procedure, as may be specified in the bye-laws or in the administrative instructions, for association of the representatives of employees of such multi-State cooperative societies at such level or bodies as may be specified in the bye-laws or the instructions issued in this regard, in the management decision making process.

No member of any multi-state cooperative society or nominee of a member-society on a national cooperative society shall be eligible for being chosen as, or for being, a member of the board of such multi-State cooperative society or national cooperative society or of any other cooperative society to which the multi-State cooperative society is affiliated. if such member -

a.     has been adjudged by a competent court to be insolvent or of unsound mind;

b.    is concerned or participates in the profits of any contract with the society;

c.     has been convicted for an offence involving moral turpitude;

d.    holds any office or place of profit under the society;

Provided that the Chief Executive or such full-time employee of the society as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time or a person elected by the employees of such society to represent them on the Board of such society shall be eligible for being chosen as, or for being, a member of such board;

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d.      

e.     has been a member of the society for less than twelve months immediately preceding the date of such election or appointment;

f.     has interest in any business of the kind carried on by the society of which he is a member;

g.    has taken loan or goods on credit from the society of which he is a member, or is otherwise indebted to such society and after the receipt of a notice of default issued to him by such society, has defaulted -

              i.        in repayment of such loan or debt or in payment of the price of the good taken on credit, as the case may be, within the date fixed for such repayment or payment or where such date is extended, which in no case shall exceed six months, within the date so extended, or

             ii.        when such loan or debt or the price of goods taken on credit is to be paid in installments, in payment of any installment, and the amount in default or any part there of has remained unpaid on the expiry of six months from the date of such default;

Provided that a member of the board who had ceased to hold office as such under this clause shall not be eligible, for a period of one year, from the date on which he ceased to hold office, for reelection as a member of the board of the multi-State cooperative society of which he was a member or for election to the board of any other multi-State cooperative society;

a.      

b.      

c.      

d.      

e.      

f.      

g.      

h.     is a person against whom any amount due under a degree, decision or order is pending recovery under this Act;

i.      is retained or employed as a legal practitioner on behalf of or against the multi-State cooperative society, or on behalf of or against any other multi-State cooperative society which is a member of the former society.

Explanation - For the purposes of this clause "legal practitioner" has the same meaning as in clause (i) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the Advocates Act, 1961;

a.       

b.       

c.       

d.       

e.       

f.       

g.       

h.       

i.       

j.      has been convicted for any offence under this Act.

1.     The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, elections of the members of the board of such multi-State cooperative societies or class of multi-State cooperative societies as the Central Government may, by general or special order, notify, shall be vested in such returning officers as may be appointed by the Central Registrar in this behalf.

2.     The vote at such elections shall be by secret ballot.

3.     The term of office of the elected members of the board shall be such, not exceeding three years from the date of election, as may be specified in the bye-laws of a multi-State cooperative society:

Provided that the elected members shall continue to hold office till their successors are elected or nominated under the provisions of this Act or the rules or the bye-laws and assume the charge of their office.

1.      

2.      

3.      

4.     No person shall be eligible to be elected as a member of the board of a multi-State cooperative society unless he is a member of the general body of that society.

5.     The Central Government may make rules generally to provide for or to regulate matters in respect of elections of members of the board.

Notwithstanding any thing contained in this Act, no person shall be eligible to hold, at the same time, office of a president or chairman or vice-president or vice-chairman on the board of more than one multi-State cooperative society:

Provided that any person holding, at the commencement of this Act, the office of a president or chairman or vice-president or vice-chairman in more than one multi-State cooperative society shall, within three months from such commencement by notice in writing signed by him, intimate the name of the multi-State cooperative society in which he wishes to serve and thereupon his office in the other multi-State cooperative society in which he does not wish to serve shall become vacant:

Provided further that in default of such intimation within the period referred to in the preceding proviso, his offices in all the multi-State cooperative societies shall, at the expiration of the period aforesaid, become vacant.

37. Restrictions on holding of office.-

No person shall be eligible to hold the office of a president or chairman or vice-president or vice-chairman on the board of a multi-State cooperative society, after he has held the office as aforesaid during two consecutive terms, whether full or part:

Provided that a person who has ceased to hold the office of a president or chairman continuously, for one full term of three years shall again be eligible for election to the offices aforesaid.

Explanation - Where any person holding the office of the president or vice-president or chairman or vice-chairman at the commencement of this Act is again elected to that office after such commencement, he shall for the purpose of this section, be deemed to have held office for one term before such election.

Honorarium may be paid to the elected chairman or president of the board out of the profits of the multi-State cooperative society in respect of specific services rendered by him, subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be prescribed.

An elected member of a board who has acted adversely to the interests of multi-State cooperative society may, on the basis of a report from the Central Registrar or otherwise, be removed from the board upon a resolution of the general body passed at its meeting by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at the meeting.

Provided that the member concerned shall not be removed unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of making representation in the matter.

If in spite of cessation of office under circumstances mentioned in Section 34, Section 36, Section 37 or Section 39 a member of the board refuses to vacate his office, the Central Registrar shall, by order in writing, remove him from such office.

1.     Where the Central Government or a State Government has subscribed to the share capital of a multi - state cooperative society or has guaranteed the repayment of principal and payment of interest on debentures issued by a multi-State cooperative society or has guaranteed the repayment of principal and payment of interest on loans and advances to a multi-State cooperative society, the Central Government or the State Government in this behalf, as the case may be, or any person authorised by the Central Government or the State Government, shall have the right to nominate on the board such number of persons as may be prescribed;

2.     The bye-laws of a multi-State cooperative society may provide for the nomination of persons in excess of the limits prescribed under sub-section(1).

3.     A person nominated under this section shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government by which he has been so nominated.

1.     The board may exercise all such powers as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of carrying out its functions under this Act.

2.     Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such power shall include the power --

a.     to admit members;

b.    to interpret the organisational objectives and set up specific goals to be achieved towards these objectives;

c.     to make periodic appraisal of operations;

d.    to appoint a Chief Executive and such other employees of the society (out of the list of persons referred to in section 50) as are not required to be appointed by the Chief Executive;

e.     to make provisions for regulating the appointment of employees of the multi-State cooperative society and the scales of pay, allowances and other conditions of service of, including disciplinary action against, such employees;

f.     to approve annual and supplementary budget;

g.    to acquire or dispose of immovable property;

h.     to raise funds;

i.      to sanction loans to the members; and

j.      to take such other measures or to do such other acts as may be prescribed or required under this Act.

1.     The Chief Executive shall convene the meetings of the board at the instance of the chairman or president of the multi-State cooperative society.

2.     The total number of meetings of the board in a year and the venue of meetings may be such as may be prescribed: Provided that the board shall meet at least once in every quarter.

1.     There shall be Chief Executive, by whatever designation called, of every multi-State cooperative society, to be appointed by the board and he shall be a full-time employee of such multi-State cooperative society.

2.     The Chief Executive shall be member of the board and of the Executive Committee and such other committees or sub-committees as may be constituted under sub-section (1) of section 46.

3.     The functional directors in national cooperative societies shall also be members of the board.

4.     Where the Central Government has subscribed to the extent of more than one-half of the share capital of a national co-operative society, it shall be obligatory on such a society to seek prior approval of the Central Government to the appointment of Chief Executive and the functional directors.

The Chief Executive shall exercise the powers and discharge the functions, specified below, namely:-

a.     day to day management of the business of the multi-State Cooperative society;

b.    operating the accounts of the multi-State cooperative society and be responsible for making arrangements for safe custody of cash;

c.     signing of the documents for and on behalf of the multi-State cooperative society;

d.    making arrangements for the proper maintenance of various books and records of the multi-State cooperative society and for the correct preparation, timely submission of periodical statements and returns in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the rules and the bye-laws;

e.     convening meetings of the general body of the multi-State cooperative society, the board and the Executive Committee and other committees or sub-committees constituted under sub-section (1) of Section 46 and maintaining proper records for such meetings;

f.     making appointments to posts in the multi-State cooperative society in accordance with the rules made under clause (e) of Sub-section (2) of section 42 except the posts in relation to which the power of appointment vests in the board under Clause (d) of that sub-section;

g.    assisting the board in the formulation of policies and objectives and planning;

h.     furnishing to the board periodical information necessary for appraising the operations and functions of the multi-State cooperative society;

i.      performing such other duties, and exercising such other powers, as may be prescribed or as may be specified in the bye-laws of the multi-State cooperative society.

1.     The board may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, constitute an Executive Committee and other committees or sub-committees, as may be considered necessary.

2.     The Executive Committee or other committee or sub-committee referred to in sub-section (1) shall perform such functions as are assigned to it in accordance with the bye-laws of the multi-State cooperative society.

If the Central Government is satisfied that in the public interest or for the purposes of securing proper implementation of cooperative production and other developmental programmes approved or undertaken by the Central Government or to secure proper management of business of the multi-State cooperative societies generally or for preventing the affairs of the multi-State cooperative societies being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the members, any depositors or creditors thereof, it is necessary to issue directions to any class of multi-State cooperative societies generally or to any multi-State cooperative society or societies in particular, the Central Government may issue directions to them or to it, from time to time and all such multi-State cooperative societies or the society concerned, as the case may be, shall be bound to comply with such directions.

1.     If in the opinion of the Central Registrar the board of any multi-State cooperative society is persistently making default or is negligent in the performance of the duties imposed on it by this Act or the rules or the bye-laws or has committed any act which is prejudicial to the interests of the society or its members or has omitted or failed to comply with any directions given to its under section 47 or that there is a stalemate in the constitution or functions of the board, the Central Registrar may after giving the board an opportunity to state its objections, if any, and considering the objections, if received, by order in writing, remove the board and appoint one or more administrators, who need not be members of the society to manage the affairs of the society for such period not exceeding one year; as may be specified in the order, which period may, at the discretion of the Central Registrar, be extended from time to time; so, however, that the aggregate period does not exceed two years.

2.     The Central Registrar may fix such remuneration for the administrators as he may think fit and the remuneration shall be paid out of the funds of the multi-State cooperative society.

3.     The administrator shall subject to the control of the Central Registrar and to such instructions as he may from time to time give, have power to exercise all or any of the functions of the board or of any officer of the multi-State cooperative society and take all such actions as may be required in the interests of the society.

4.     Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (5), the administrator shall, before the expiry of his term of office, arrange for the constitution of a new board, in accordance with the bye-laws of the multi-State cooperative society.

5.     If at any time during the period of administrator is in office the Central Registrar considers it necessary or expedient so to do, he may, by order in writing giving reasons therefor, direct the administrator to arrange for the constitution of a new board for such multi-State cooperative society in accordance with the bye-laws of such society and immediately on the constitution of such board, the administrators shall hand over the management of such society to such newly constituted board and cease to function.

6.     Where a multi-State cooperative society is indebted to any financial institution the Central Registrar shall, before taking any action, under sub-section (1) in respect of that society, consult the financial institution.

7.     Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Registrar shall, in the case of a cooperative bank, if so required in writing by the Reserve Bank in the public interests or for preventing the affairs of the cooperative bank being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors or for securing the proper management of a cooperative bank, pass an order for the supersession of the board of that cooperative bank and for the appointment of an administrator therefor for such periods not exceeding five years in the aggregate as may from time to time be specified by the Reserve Bank.

1.     If �

a.     the records (including registers and books of accounts) of a multi-State cooperative society are likely to be tampered with or destroyed or the funds or other property of such society are likely to be misappropriated or misapplied; or

b.    the board of a multi-State cooperative society is reconstituted at a general meeting of the society; or

c.     the board of a multi-State cooperative society is removed by the Central Registrar under sub-section (1) of section 48; or

d.    a multi - State cooperative society is ordered to be wound up under section 77 and the outgoing members of the board refuse to hand over charge of the records and property of the society to those having, or entitled to receive such charge, the Central Registrar may apply to the magistrate within whose jurisdiction the multi-State cooperative society functions for securing the records and property of the society.

1.      

2.     On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the magistrate may, by a warrant authorise any police officer not below the rank of a sub-inspector to enter and search any place where such records and property are kept or are believed to be kept and to seize such records and property; and the records and property so seized shall be handed over to the new board or administrator of the multi-State cooperative society or the liquidator, as the case may be.

3.     Every such search and seizure shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

The Central Government shall -

a.     constitute a body of persons in the manner prescribed for the preparation of a list of persons eligible for appointment to the posts of Chief Executive and other managerial posts in national cooperative societies, the maximum pay-scale of which exceeds such amount as may be prescribed;

b.    make rules for regulating the recruitment, remuneration, allowances and other conditions of service of officers and other employees of national cooperative societies.

No act of a multi-State cooperative society or of any board or of any committee or of any officers of the society shall be deemed to be invalid by reason only of the existence of any defect in the procedure or in the constitution of the society or of the board of the committee thereof or in the appointment or election of an officer or on the ground that such officer was disqualified to hold office.

The registration of a multi-State cooperative society shall render it a body corporate by the name under which it is registered having perpetual succession and a common seal, and with power to hold property, enter into contract, institute and defend suits and other legal proceedings and to do all things necessary for the purposes for which it is constituted.

A multi-State cooperative society shall have a charge on the share or contribution or interest in the capital and on the deposits of a member or past or deceased member and on any dividend, bonus or profits payable to a member or past member or the estate of a deceased member in respect of any debt due from such member or past member of the estate of such deceased member to the society and may set off any sum credited or payable to a member or past member or the estate of deceased member in or towards payment of any such debt.

1.     Subject to the provisions of section 53, the share or contribution or interest of a member or past or deceased member in the capital of a multi-State cooperative society shall not be liable to attachment or sale under any decree or order of any court in respect of any debt or liability incurred by such member and an official assignee or a receiver under any law relating to insolvency shall not be entitled to or have any claim on such share of contribution or interest.

2.     The reserve fund, or the bad debt reserves, or the provident fund of the employees of a multi-State cooperative society invested by such society in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules shall not be liable to attachment under any decree or order of a court in respect of any debt or liability incurred by the society.

Any register or list of members or shares kept by any multi-State cooperative society shall be prima facie evidence of any of the following particulars entered therein, namely -

a.     the date on which any person entered in such register or list became a member;

b.    the date on which any such person ceased to be a member.

1.     A copy of any entry in a book of a multi-State cooperative society regularly kept in the course of its business shall, if certifies in such manner as may be prescribed, be received in any suit or legal proceedings as prima facie evidence of the existence of such entry and shall be admitted as evidence of the matters, transactions and accounts therein every case where and to the same extent as, the original entry itself is admissible.

2.     No officer of a multi-State cooperative society and no officer in whose office the books of a multi-State cooperative society are deposited after liquidation shall, in any legal proceedings to which the society or the liquidator is not a party, be compelled to produce any of the society's books or documents the contents of which can be proved under this section, or to appear as a witness to prove the matters, transactions and accounts therein recorded, except under an order of a court or an arbitrator made for a special cause.

Nothing in clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, shall apply to -

a.     any instrument relating to shares in a multi-State cooperative society notwithstanding that the assets of the society consist in whole or in part of immovable property; or

b.    any debenture issued by any such society and not creating, declaring, assigning, limiting or extinguishing any right, title or interest to or in immovable property, except in so far as it entitles the holder thereof to the security afforded by a registered instrument whereby the society has mortgaged, conveyed or otherwise transferred the whole or part of its immovable property or any interest therein to trustees upon trust for the benefit of the holders of such debentures; or

c.     an endorsement upon or transfer of any debenture issued by any such society.

1.     Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, a member of a multi-State cooperative society may execute an agreement in favour of that society providing that his employer disbursing his salary or wages shall be competent to deduct every month from the salary or wages payable to him, such amount as may be specified in the agreement and pay the amount so deducted to the society in satisfaction of any debt or other demand owing by the member to the society.

2.     On the execution of such agreement the employer disbursing the salary or wages of the members shall, if so required by the multi-State cooperative society by a requisition in writing and so long as the society does not intimate that the whole of such debt or other demand has been paid, make the deduction in accordance with the agreement and pay the amount so deducted to the society within a period of fourteen days of the date on which deduction has been made, as if it were a part of the salary or wages payable on the day as required under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, and such payment shall be valid discharge of the employer for his liability to pay the amount deducted.

3.     If after the receipt of a requisition made under sub-section (2) the employer disbursing the salary or wages of the member at any time fails to deduct the amount specified in the requisition from the salary or wages payable to the member concerned or makes default in remitting the amount deducted to the multi-State cooperative society, the society shall be entitled to recover any such amount from such employer as arrears of land revenue and the amount so due from such employer shall rank in priority in respect of the liability of such employer equal to that of the salary or wages in arrears.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, the Central Government or a State Government may, with a view to promoting cooperative movement -

a.     subscribe to the share capital of a multi-State cooperative society;

b.    give loans or make advances to a multi-State cooperative society;

c.     guarantee the repayment of principal and payment of interest on debentures issued by a multi-State cooperative society;

d.    guarantee the repayment of share capital of a multi-State cooperative society and dividends thereon at such rates as may be specified by the Central Government or the State Government;

e.     guarantee the repayment of principal and payment of interest on loans advances to a multi-State cooperative society;

f.     give financial assistance in any other form, including subsides, to any multi-State cooperative society.

1.     No part of the funds, other than net profits, of a multi-State cooperative society shall be divided by way of bonus or dividend or otherwise distributed among its members.

2.     The net profits of a multi-State cooperative society referred to in sub-section (1) in respect of a society earning profit shall be calculated by deducting from the gross profits for the year, all interest accrued and accruing in relation to amounts which are overdue, establishment charges, interest payable on loans and deposits, audit fees, working expenses including repairs, rent, taxes and depreciation, bonus payable to employees under the law relating to payment of bonus for the tem being in force, and equilisation fund for such bonus, provision for payment of income-tax and making approved donations under the Income-tax Act, 1961, development rebate, provision for development fund, bad debt fund, price fluctuation fund, dividend equalisation fund, share capital, redemption fund, investment fluctuation fund, provision for retirement benefits to employees, and after providing for or writing off bad debt and losses not adjusted against any funds created out of profit.

Provided further that in case of such multi-State cooperative societies as do not have share capital, the surplus of income over expenditure shall not be treated as net profits and such surplus shall be dealt with in accordance with the bye-laws.

1.     A multi-State cooperative society shall out of its net profits in any year -

a.     transfer an amount not less than twenty-five per cent to the reserve fund, and

b.    credit such portion, as may be prescribed, to the cooperative education fund maintained by the National Cooperative Union of India Limited, New Delhi.

1.      

2.     Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, the balance of the net profits may be utilized for all or any of the following purposes, namely;

a.     payment of dividend to members on their paid-up share capital at a rate not exceeding the prescribed limit;

b.    constitution of, or contribution to, such special funds including education funds, as may be specified in the bye-laws;

c.     donation of amount not exceeding five per cent of the net profits for any purpose as defined in section 2 of the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890;

d.    payment of ex gratia amount to employees of the multi-State cooperative society to the extent and in the manner specified in the bye-laws.

1.      

2.      

3.     The funds of a multi-State cooperative society shall not be utilised for any political purpose.

A multi-State cooperative society may invest or deposit its funds -

a.     in a cooperative bank, State cooperative bank, cooperative land mortgage bank, cooperative land development bank or Central cooperative bank; or

b.    in any of the securities specified in section 20 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882; or

c.     in the shares or securities of any other multi-State cooperative society or any cooperative society; or

d.    in the shares, securities or assets of any other institution, with the previous approval of the Central Registrar; or

e.     with any bank; or

f.     in such other mode as may be prescribed.

Explanation - In clause (e), "bank" means any banking company as defined in clause (e) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949, and includes -

              i.        the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955;

             ii.        a subsidiary bank as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959;

            iii.        a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Under-takings) Act, 1970 or a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980.

1.     A multi-State Cooperative society, other than a cooperative bank, shall not make a loan -

a.     to a member on the security or his share or on the security of a non-member; or

b.    to a non-member;

Provided that with the general or special sanction of the Central Registrar, a multi-State cooperative society may make loans to another multi-State cooperative society.

1.      

2.     Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a multi-State cooperative society may make a loan to a depositor on the security of his deposit.

A multi-State cooperative society shall receive deposits and loans only to such extent and under such conditions as may be specified in the bye-laws;

Provided that a cooperative bank shall be governed by the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Save as provided in section 63 and 64, the transaction of a multi-State cooperative society with any person other than a member shall be subject to such prohibitions and restrictions, if any, as may be prescribed.

1.     A multi-State cooperative society having such number or class of employees as may be prescribed may establish a contributory provident fund for the benefit of such employees to which shall be credited all contributions made by the employees and the society in accordance with the bye-laws of the society.

2.     Monies standing to the credit of any contributory provident fund established by a multi-State cooperative society under sub-section (1) shall not -

a.     be used in the business of the society;

b.    form part of the assets of the society;

c.     be liable to attachment or be subject to any other process or any court or other authority.

1.      

2.      

3.     Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, a provident fund established by a multi-State cooperative society to which the provisions of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, apply, shall be governed by that Act.

1.     The Central Registrar shall audit, or cause to be audited by a person authorised by him by general or special order in writing in this behalf, the accounts of every multi-State cooperative society at least once in each year.

2.     The audit under sub-section (1) shall include an examination of overdue debts, if any, the verification of the cash balance and securities, and a valuation of the assets and liabilities of the multi-State cooperative society.

3.     The person auditing the accounts of a multi-State cooperative society shall have free access to the books, accounts, papers, vouchers, stock and other property of such society and shall be allowed to verify its cash balance and securities.

4.     The directors, managers, administrators and other officers of the multi-State cooperative society shall furnish to the person auditing the accounts of the society all such information as to its transactions and working as such person may require.

5.     The Central Registrar or the person authorised by him under sub-section (1) to audit the accounts of a multi-State cooperative society shall have power, where necessary -

a.     to summon at the time of the audit any officer, agent, servant or member of the society, past or present, who, he has reason to believe can give valuable information in regard to transactions of the society or the management of its affairs; and

b.    to require the production of any book or document relating to the affairs or, any cash or securities belonging to, the society by any officer, agent, servant, or member of the society in possession of such books, documents, cash or securities and in the event of serious irregularities discovered during audit, to take them into custody.

1.      

2.      

3.      

4.      

5.      

6.     If at the time of audit the accounts of a multi-State cooperative society are not complete, the Central Registrar or the person authorised by him under sub-section (1) to audit may cause the accounts to be written up at the expense of the society.

7.     Audit fee, if any, due from any multi-State cooperative society shall be determined by the Central Registrar and shall be recoverable in the same manner as is provided in section 89.

1.     The Central Registrar, or any person authorised by him by general or special order in writing in this behalf, may inspect a multi-State cooperative society.

2.      

a.     For the purpose of inspection under sub-section (1), the Central Registrar or the person authorised by him under that sub-section shall at all times have access to all books, accounts, papers, vouchers, securities, stock and other property of that society and may, in the event of serious irregularities discovered during inspection, take them into custody and shall have power to verify the cash balance of the society and subject to the general or special order of the Central Registrar to call a meeting of the board and also a general meeting of the society where such general meeting is, in his opinion, necessary.

b.    Every officer of members of a multi-State cooperative society shall furnish information with regard to the working of the society as the Central Registrar or the person making such inspection may require.

1.      

2.      

3.     A copy of the report of inspection under this section shall be communicated to the multi-State cooperative society within a period of three months from the date of completion of such inspection.

1.     The Central Registrar may, of his own motion or on the application of a majority of the members of the board or of not less than one third of the members, hold an inquiry or direct some person authorised by him by order in writing in this behalf to hold an inquiry into the constitution, working and financial condition of a multi-State cooperative society.

2.     The Central Registrar or the person authorised by him under sub-section (1) shall have the following powers, namely;

a.     he shall at all reasonable times have free access to the books, accounts, documents, securities, cash and other properties belonging to or in the custody of the multi-State cooperative society and may summon any person in possession or responsible for the custody of any such book, accounts, documents, securities, cash or other properties to produce the same, at any place specified by him;

b.    he may, notwithstanding any rules or bye-laws specifying the period of notice for a general meeting of the multi-State cooperative society, require the officers of the society to call a general meeting of the society by giving notice of not less than seven days at such time and place at the headquarters of the society to consider such matters, as may be directed by him; and where the officers of the society refuse or fail to call such a meeting he shall have power to call it himself;

c.     he may summon any person who is reasonably believed by him to have any knowledge of the affairs of the multi-State cooperative society to appear before him at any place at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof and may examine such person on oath.

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2.      

3.     Any meeting called under clause (b) of sub-section (2) shall have all the powers of a general meeting of the society called under the bye-laws of the society and its proceedings shall be regulated by such bye-laws.

4.     The Central Registrar shall, within a period of three months of the date of receipt, communicate a brief summary of the report of the inquiry to the multi-State cooperative society, the financial institutions, if any, to which the society is affiliated, and to the person or authority, if any, at whose instance the inquiry is made.

1.     The Central Registrar shall, on the application of a creditor of a multi-State cooperative society, inspect, or direct some person authorised by him by order in writing in this behalf to inspect, the books of the society:

Provided that no such inspection shall be made unless the applicant -

a.     satisfies the Central Registrar that the debt is a sum then due, and that he has demanded payment thereof and has not received satisfaction within a reasonable time; and

b.    deposits with the Central Registrar such sum as security for the costs of the proposed inspection as the Central Registrar may require.

1.      

2.     The Central Registrar shall communicate the result of any such inspection to the creditor.

Where an inquiry is held under section 69 or an inspection is made under section 70, the Central Registrar may apportion the costs, or such part of the costs, as he may think fit, between the multi-State cooperative society, the members or creditor demanding an inquiry or inspection, and the officers or former officers and the members or past members of that society;

Provided that -

a.     no order of apportionment of the cost shall be made under this section unless the society or the person liable to pay the costs thereunder has had a reasonable opportunity of being heard;

b.    the Central Registrar shall state in writing under his own hand the grounds on which the costs are apportioned.

Any sum awarded by way of costs under section 71 may be recovered, on application to a magistrate having jurisdiction in the place where the person, from whom the money is claimable, actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business, and such magistrate shall recover the same as if it were a fine imposed by himself.

1.     If in the course of an audit, inquiry, inspection or the winding up of a multi-State cooperative society, it is found that any person, who is or was entrusted with the organisation or management of such society or who is or has at any time been an officer or an employee of the society, has made any payment contrary to this Act, the rules or the bye-laws or has caused any deficiency in the assets of the society by breach of trust or willful negligence or has misappropriated or fraudulently retained any money or other property belonging to such society, the Central Registrar may, of his own motion or on the application of the board, liquidator any creditor, inquire himself or direct any person authorised by him, by an order in writing in this behalf, to inquire into the conduct of such person within a period of two years from the date of the report of the audit, inspection or inquiry or the date of the order of winding up, as the case may be;

Provided that where the Central Registrar is satisfied that such inquiry could not be commenced during the period of two years aforesaid on account of fraud or concealment of facts make, or direct the inquiry to be made, with such period not exceeding six years from the date of the audit, inspection or the inquiry or the date of the order of winding up, as he may think fit.

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2.     Where an inquiry is made under sub-section (1), the Central Registrar may, after giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard, make an order requiring him to repay or restore the money or property or any part thereof, with interest at such rate, or to pay contribution and cost or compensation to such extent, as the Central Registrar may consider just and equitable.

1.     Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, if any dispute (other than a dispute regarding disciplinary action taken by a multi-State cooperative society against its paid employee or an industrial dispute as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947) touching the constitution, management or business of a multi-State cooperative society arises -

a.     among members, past members and persons claiming through members and deceased members, or

b.    between a member, past member or a person claiming through a member, past member or deceased member and the multi-State cooperative society, its board or any officer, agent or employee of the multi-State cooperative society or liquidator, past or present, or

c.     between the multi-State cooperative society or its board and any past board, any officer, agent or employee, or any past officer, past agent of past employee or the nominee, heirs or legal representatives of any deceased officer, or deceased employee of the multi-State cooperative society, or

d.    between the multi-State cooperative society and any other multi-State cooperative society, between a multi-State cooperative society and liquidator of another multi-State cooperative society or between the liquidator of one multi-State cooperative society and the liquidator of another multi-State cooperative society, Such dispute shall be referred to the Central Registrar for decision and no court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or other proceedings in respect of such dispute;

Provided that all disputes in which a national cooperative society is a party shall be referred to the Central Registrar or any officer empowered to exercise the power of the Central Registrar.

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2.     For the purposes of sub-section (1), the following shall be deemed to be disputes touching the constitution, management or business of a multi-State cooperative society, namely:

a.     a claim by the multi-State cooperative society for any debt or demand due to it from a member or the nominee, heirs or legal representatives of a deceased member, whether such debt or demand be admitted or not;

b.    a claim by a surety against the principal debtor where the multi-State cooperative society has recovered from the surety any amount in respect of any debt or demand due to it from the principal debtor as a result of the default of the principal debtor, whether such debt or demand is admitted or not;

c.     any dispute arising in connection with the election of any officer of a multi-State cooperative society.

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3.     If any question arises whether a dispute referred to the Central Registrar is or is not a dispute touching the constitution, management or business of a multi-State cooperative society, the decision thereon of the Central Registrar shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court.

1.     Notwithstanding anything contained in the Limitation Act, 1963, but subject to the specific provisions made in this Act, the period of limitation in the case of a dispute referred to the Central Registrar shall,

a.     When the dispute relates to the recovery of any sum including interest thereon due to a multi-State cooperative society by a member thereof, be computed from the date on which such member dies or ceases to be a member of the society;

b.    save as otherwise provided in clause(c), when the dispute relates to any act or omission on the part of any of the parties referred to in clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 74, be six years from the date on which the act or omission, with reference to which the dispute arose, took place;

c.     when the dispute relates to a multi-State cooperative society which has been ordered to be wound up under section 77 or in respect of which an administrator has been appointed under section 48, be six years from the date of the order issued under section 77 or section 48, as the case may be;

d.    when the dispute is in respect of an election of an officer of a multi-State cooperative society, be one month from the date of the declaration of the result of the election.

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2.     The period of limitation in the case of any dispute, except those mentioned in sub-section (1), which are required to be referred to the Central Registrar shall be regulated by the provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963, as if the dispute were a suit and the Central Registrar a civil court.

3.     Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections(1) and (2), the Central Registrar may admit a dispute after the expiry of the period of limitation, if the applicant satisfies the Central Registrar that he had sufficient cause for not referring the dispute within such period.

1.     The Central Registrar may, on receipt of the reference of dispute under section 74.

a.     elect to decide the dispute himself, or

b.    transfer it for disposal to any other person who has been invested by the Central Government with powers in that behalf.

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2.     The Central Registrar may withdraw any reference transferred under clause (b) of sub-section (1) and decide it himself or refer the same for decision to any other person who has been invested by the Central Government with powers in that behalf.

3.     The Central Registrar or any other person to whom a dispute is referred for decision under this section may, pending the decision of the dispute, make such interlocutory orders as he may deem necessary in the interest of justice.

1.     If the Central Registrar, after an inquiry has been held under section 69 or an inspection has been made under section 70, or on receipt of an application made by not less than three fourths of the members of a multi State cooperative society, is of the opinion that the society ought to be wound up, he may, after giving the society a reasonable opportunity of making its representations, by order, direct it to be wound up.

2.     The Central Registrar may, of his own motion and after giving the multi-State cooperative society a reasonable opportunity of making its representations, make an order directing the winding up of the multi-State cooperative society -

a.     where it is a condition of the registration of the society that the society shall consist of at least fifty members and the number of members has been reduced to less than fifty; or

b.    where the multi-State cooperative society has not commenced working within a period of six months of the date of its registration or such extended period as the Central Registrar may allow in this behalf or has ceased to function in accordance with cooperative principles.

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3.     The Central Registrar may cancel an order for the winding up of a multi-State cooperative society, at any time, in any case where in his opinion, the society should continue to exist.

4.     A copy of such order shall be communicated by registered post to the multi-State cooperative society and to the financial institutions, if any, of which the society is a member.

5.     Notwithstanding anything contained in this section no cooperative bank shall be wound up except with the previous sanction in writing of the Reserve Bank.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Act, the Central Registrar shall make an order for the winding up of a cooperative bank, if so required by the Reserve Bank in the circumstances mentioned in section 13D of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961.

Where a cooperative bank, being an insured bank within the meaning of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, is wound up and the Deposit Insurance Corporation has become liable to the depositors of the insured bank under sub-section (1) of section 16 of that Act, the Deposit Insurance Corporation shall be reimbursed by the liquidator or such other person in the circumstances, to the extent and in the manner provided in section 21 of that Act.

1.     Where the Central Registrar has made an order under section 77 for the winding up of a multi-State cooperative society, the Central Registrar may appoint a liquidator for the purpose and fix his remuneration.

2.     A liquidator shall, on appointment, take into his custody or under his control all the property, effects and actionable claims to which the multi-State cooperative society is or appears to be entitled and shall take such steps as he may deem necessary or expedient to prevent loss or deterioration of, or damage to, such property, effects and claims and he may carry on the business of the multi-State cooperative society so far may be necessary with the previous approval of the Central Registrar.

3.     Where an appeal is preferred under clause (k) of sub-section (1) of section 90, an order for the winding up of a multi-State cooperative society made under section 77 shall not operate thereafter until the order is confirmed in appeal;

Provided that the liquidator shall continue to have custody or control of the Property, effects and actionable claims mentioned in sub-section (2) and have authority to take the step referred to in that sub-section.

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4.     Where an order for the winding up of a multi-State cooperative society is set aside in appeal, the property, effects and actionable claims of the society shall re-vest in the society.

1.     Subject to any rules made in this behalf, the whole of the assets of a multi-State cooperative society in respect of which an order for winding up has been made, shall vest in the liquidator appointed under section 80 from the date on which the order takes effect and the liquidator shall have power to realise such assets by sale or otherwise.

2.     Such liquidator shall also have power, subject to the control of the Central Registrar -

a.     to institute and defend suits and other legal proceedings on behalf of the multi-State cooperative society by the name of his office;

b.    to determine from time to time the contribution (including debts due and costs of liquidation) to be made or remaining to be made by the members or past members or by the estates or nominees, heirs or legal representatives of deceased members or by any officers or former officers, to the assets of the multi-State cooperative society;

c.     to investigate all claims against the multi-State cooperative society and subject to the provisions of this Act, to decide questions of priority arising between claimants;

d.    to pay claims against the multi-State cooperative society, including interest up to the date of winding up according to their respective priorities, if any, in full or rateably, as the assets of the society may permit; the surplus, if any, remaining after payment of the claims being applied in payment of interest from the date of such order of winding up at a rate fixed by him but not exceeding the contract rate in any case;

e.     to determine by what persons and in what proportions the costs of the liquidation are to be borne;

f.     to determine whether any person is a member, past member or nominee of a deceased member;

g.    to give such directions in regard to the collection and distribution of the assets of the multi-State cooperative society as may appear to him to be necessary for winding up the affairs of that society;

h.     to carry on the business of the multi-State cooperative society so far as may be necessary for the beneficial winding up of the same;

i.      to make any compromise or arrangement with creditors or persons claiming to be creditors or having or alleging to have any claim, present or future, whereby the multi-State cooperative society may be rendered liable;

j.      to make any compromise or arrangement with any person between whom and the multi-State cooperative society there exists any dispute and to refer to any such dispute for decision;

k.     after consulting the members of the multi State cooperative society, to dispose of the surplus, if any, remaining after paying the claims against the society, in such manner as may be prescribed;

l.      to compromise all calls or liabilities, to calls and debts and liabilities capable of resulting in debts, and all claims, present or future, certain or contingent, subsisting or alleged to be subsisting between the multi-State cooperative society and a contributory or other debtor or person apprehending liability to the multi-State cooperative society and all questions in any way relating to or affecting the assets or the winding up of the society on such terms as may be agreed any take any security for the discharge of any such call, liability, debt or claim and give a complete discharge in respect thereof.

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3.     When the affairs of a multi-State cooperative society have been wound up, the liquidator shall make a report to the Central Registrar and deposit the records of the society in such place as the Central Registrar may direct.

The surplus assets, as shown in the report of a liquidator of a multi-State cooperative society which is wound up;

a.     may, if the bye-laws of the multi-State cooperative society specify the purpose for which surplus shall be utilised, be utilised by the Central Registrar for the said purpose, and

b.    if the bye-laws aforesaid do not specify the purpose, be divided by the Central Registrar, with the previous sanction of the Central Government, amongst the members of such multi-State cooperative society in such manner as may be prescribed.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any law relating to insolvency the contribution assessed by a liquidator shall rank next to debts due to the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority in accordance with the order of priority in insolvency proceedings.

1.     The Central Registrar may, after considering the report of the liquidator made to him under sub-section (3) of section 81, order the registration of the multi State cooperative society to be cancelled and on such cancellation, that society shall stand dissolved.

2.     An order passed under sub-section (1) shall be communicated by registered post to the president of the multi-State cooperative society and to the financial institutions, if any, of which the society was a member.

Every decision or order made under section 30, section 31, section 73, section 76, section 90, section 92 or section 93 shall, if not carried out.

a.     on a certificate signed by the Central Registrar or any person authorised by him in writing in this behalf, be deemed to be a decree of a civil court and shall be executed in the same manner as if it were a decree of such court or

b.    where the decision or order provides for the recovery of money, be executed according to the law for the time being in force for the recovery of arrears of land revenue :

Provided that any application for the recovery in such manner of any sum shall be made -

              i.        to the Collector and shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by the Central Registrar or by any person authorised by him in writing in this behalf;

             ii.        within twelve years from the date fixed, in the decision or order and if no such date is fixed from the date of the decision or order, as the case may be; or

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c.     be executed by the Central Registrar or any persons authorised by him in writing in this behalf, by attachment and sale or sale without attachment of any property of the person or a multi-State cooperative society against whom the decision or order has been made.

Every order made by the liquidator under section 81 shall be executed according to the law for the time being in force for the recovery of arrears of land revenue.

1.     Where the Central Registrar is satisfied that a party to any reference made to him under section 74 with intent to defeat or delay the execution of any decision that may be passed thereon is about to -

a.     dispose of the whole or any part of the property; or

b.    remove the whole or any part of the property from its existing precincts, the Central Registrar may, unless adequate security is furnished, direct conditional attachment of the said property or such part thereof as he think necessary.

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2.     The attachment under sub-section (1) shall be executed by a civil court having jurisdiction in the same way as an attachment order passed by itself and shall have the same effect as such order.

The Central Registrar or any person authorised by him in writing in this behalf shall be deemed, when exercising any powers under this Act for the recovery of any amount by the attachment and sale or by sale without attachment of any property, or when passing any orders on any application made to him for such recovery or for taking a step-in-aid of such recovery, to be a civil court for the purposes of article 136 of the Schedule to the Limitation Act, 1963.

1.     All sums due from a multi-State cooperative society, or from an officer or member or past member of a multi-State cooperative society, to the Central Government or a State Government, including any cost awarded to the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be under any provision of this Act, may on a certificate issued by the Central Registrar in this behalf, be recovered in the same manner as arrears of land revenue.

2.     Sums due from a multi-State cooperative society to the Central Government or a State Government and recoverable under sub-section(1) may be recovered firstly from the property of the society and secondly from the members, past members or the estates of deceased members, subject to the limit of their liability;

Provided that the liability of past members and the estate of deceased members shall in all cases be subject to the provision of section 28.

1.     Subject to the provisions of section 91, an appeal shall lie under this section against -

a.     an order made by the Central Registrar under sub-section (2) of section 7 refusing to register a multi-State cooperative society;

b.    an order made by the Central Registrar under sub-section (4) of section 9 refusing to register an amendment of the bye-laws of multi-State cooperative society;

c.     a decision of a multi State cooperative society refusing or deemed to be refusing under sub-section (5) of section 19 to admit any person as a member of the society who is otherwise duly qualified for membership under the bye-laws of the society;

d.    a decision of a multi-State cooperative society under sub-section (1) of section 21 expelling any of its members;

e.     a decision of a multi-State cooperative society removing an elected members of a board under section 39;

f.     an order made by the Central Registrar under section 40 removing a member from his office;

g.    an order made by the Central Registrar under section 48 superseding the board of directors of a multi-State cooperative society;

h.     an order made by the Central Registrar under section 71 apportioning the cost of an inquiry held under section 69 or an inspection made under section 70;

i.      an order made under sub-section (2) of section 73;

j.      a decision or order made under section 76;

k.     an order made by the Central Registrar under section 77 directing the winding up of multi-State cooperative society;

l.      an order made by the liquidator of a multi-State cooperative society under section 81;

m.   an order under section 87 directing attachment of property before award.

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2.     An appeal against any decision or order under sub-section (1) shall be made within sixty day from the date of such decision or order,

a.     if the decision or order was made by the Central Registrar, to the prescribed authority;

b.    if the decision was made by a multi-State cooperative society (other than a national cooperative society), or a liquidator of such society, to the officer who is empowered to exercise the powers of the Central Registrar under sub-Section (2) of section 4; or

c.     if the decision was made by a national cooperative society or a liquidator of such society, to the Central Registrar appointed under sub-section(1) of section 4.

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3.     The appellate authority may, if satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal within the period of sixty days, admit the appeal within such further period not exceeding sixty days as that authority may deem fit.

4.     In disposing of an appeal under this section, the appellate authority may, after giving the parties a reasonable opportunity of making their representations, pass such order thereon as that authority may deem fit.

5.     The decision or order of the appellate authority on appeal shall be final.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, where with the previous sanction in writing of or on requisition by, the Reserve Bank, a cooperative bank -

a.     is being wound up; or

b.    in respect of which a scheme of amalgamation or reorganisation is given effect to; or

c.     in respect of which an order for the supersession of the board and the appointment of an administrator therefor has been made, no appeal, revision or review there against shall lie or be permissible, and the sanction or requisition of the Reserve Bank shall not be liable to be called in question.

1.     Subject to the provisions of section 91, the Central Government may, of its own motion or on an application, call for and examine the records of any proceedings in which no appeal lies to the appellate authority under section 90 for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality or propriety of any decision or order made under this Act and if in any case it shall appear to the Central Government that any such decision or order should be modified, annulled or revised or remitted for reconsideration, the Central Government may, after giving the party to be affected thereby a reasonable opportunity of being heard, pass such order thereon as it may deem fit.

Provided that the application to the Central Government for the exercise of the power under this section shall be preferred within ninety days from the date on which the decision or order to which the application relates was communicated to the applicant;

Provided further that the Central Government may, if satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from making the application within the said period of ninety days, admit the application after the expiry of the said period.

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2.     The Central Government may suspend the execution of the decision or order pending the exercise of its power under sub-section (1) in respect thereof.

3.     The Central Government may award costs in proceedings under this section to be paid out of the funds of the multi-State cooperative society concerned or by such party to the application for revision as the Central Government may deem fit.

1.     The appellate authority under section 90 may, on the application of any party interested, review its own order in any case and pass in reference thereto such order as it thinks fit;

Provided that no such application shall be entertained unless the appellate authority is satisfied that there has been a discovery of new and important matter or evidence which after exercise of due diligence was not within the knowledge of the applicant or could not be produced by him at the time when the order was made or that there has been some mistake or error apparent on the face of the record or for any other sufficient reason;

Provided further that no such order shall be made under this sub-section unless notice has been given to all interested parties and they have been afforded a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

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2.     An application for review under sub-section (1) by any party shall be made within thirty days from the date of communication of the order of the appellate authority sought to be reviewed.

Where an appeal is made under section 90 or where the Central Government calls for the records of a case under section 92, the appellate authority or the Central Government, as the case may be, may in order to prevent the ends of justice being defeated, make such interlocutory orders, including an order of stay, pending the decision of the appeal or revision as such authority or the Central Government may deem fit.

1.     Where by virtue of the provisions of Part I of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, or any other enactment relating to reorganisation of States, any cooperative society which immediately before the day on which the reorganisation takes place, had its objects confined to one State becomes, as from that day, a multi-State cooperative society, it shall be deemed to be a multi-State cooperative society registered under the corresponding provisions of this Act and the bye-laws of such society shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue to be in force until altered or rescinded.

2.     If it appears to the Central Registrar or any officer authorised in this behalf by the Central Government (hereafter in this section referred to as the authorised officer) that it is necessary or expedient to reconstitute or reorganize any society referred to in sub-section(1) the Central Registrar or the authorised officer, as the case may be, may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, place before a meeting of the general body of that society, held in such manner as may be prescribed, a scheme for the reconstitution or reorganisation, including proposals regarding -

a.     the formation of new multi-State cooperative societies and the transfer thereto in whole or in part, of the assets and liabilities of that society, or

b.    the transfer, in whole or in part, of the assets and liabilities of that society to any other multi-State cooperative society in existence immediately before the date of that meeting of the general body (hereafter in this section referred to as the existing multi-State cooperative society).

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3.     If the scheme is sanctioned by a resolution passed by a majority of the members present at the said meeting, either without modifications or with modifications to which the Central Registrar or the authorised officer agrees, he shall certify the scheme and upon such certification, the scheme shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, regulation or bye-laws for the time being in force, be binding on all the societies affected by the scheme, as well as the share-holders and creditors of all such societies.

4.     If the scheme is not sanctioned under sub-section (3), the Central Registrar or the authorised officer may refer the scheme to such Judge of the appropriate High Court, as may be nominated in this behalf by the Chief Justice thereof, and the decision of that Judge in regard to the scheme shall be final and shall be binding on all the societies affected by the scheme as well as the shareholders and creditors of all such societies.

Explanation - In this sub-section, "appropriate High Court" means the High Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the principal place of business of the multi-state cooperative society is situated.

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5.     Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where a scheme under sub-section (2) includes any proposal regarding the transfer of the assets and liabilities of any multi-State cooperative society referred to in clause (b) thereof, the scheme shall not be binding on such multi-State cooperative society or the shareholders and creditors thereof, unless the proposal regarding such transfer is accepted by that multi-State cooperative society by a resolution passed by a majority of the members present at a meeting of its general body.

1.     A multi-State cooperative society or an officer or member thereof wilfully making a false return or furnishing false information, or any person wilfully or without any reasonable excuse disobeying any summons, requisition or lawful written order issued under the provisions of this Act, or willfully not furnishing any information required from him by a person authorised in this behalf under the provisions of this Act, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

2.     Any employer who without sufficient cause, fails to pay to a multi-state cooperative society the amount deducted by him under section 58 within a period of fourteen days from the date on which such deduction is made, shall, without prejudice to any action that may be taken against him under any other law for the time being in force, be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

3.     Any officer or custodian who willfully fails to hand over custody of books, accounts, documents, records, cash, security and other property belonging to a multi-State cooperative society of which he is an officer or custodian, to a person entitled under section 49, section 67, section 68, section 69 or section 80 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees and in the case of a continuing breach, with a further fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for every day during which the breach is continued after conviction for the first such breach.

1.     No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act.

2.     No prosecution shall be instituted under this Act without the previous sanction of the Central Registrar and such sanction shall not be given without giving to the person concerned a reasonable opportunity to represent his case.

Every multi-State cooperative society shall keep a copy of this Act, the rules and its bye-laws and also a list of its members, open to inspection free of charge at all reasonable times at the registered address of the society.

1.     Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central Government may, by general or special order, for reasons to be recorded therein, and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified therein exempt any multi-State cooperative society or class of such societies from any of the requirement of this Act relating to registration;

2.    

a.     The Central Government may, by general or special order and for reasons to be recorded therein;

                      i.        exempt any multi-State cooperative society or any class of such societies from any of the provisions of this Act or of the rules; or

                     ii.        direct that such provisions shall apply to such society or class of societies with such modifications not affecting the substance thereof as may be specified in the order;

Provided that no order shall be made under sub-clause(ii) so as to prejudice the interests of such society or class of such societies without a reasonable opportunity being given to make representation in the matter.

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b.    Every order made under clause (a) shall be published in the Official Gazette.

Any person appointed as liquidator under the provisions of this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

No suit shall be instituted against a multi-State cooperative society or any of its officers in respect of any act touching the constitution, management or the business of the society until the expiration of ninety days next after notice in writing has been delivered to the Central Registrar or left at his office, stating the cause of action, the name, description and place of residence of the plaintiff and the relief which he claims, and the plaint shall contain a statement that such notice has been so delivered or left.

1.     The provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 shall not apply to multi-State cooperative societies.

2.     The multi-State cooperative societies registered or deemed to be registered under the provisions of this Act shall not indulge in monopolistic and restrictive trade practices, as defined in the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969.

1.     Every multi-State cooperative society existing immediately before the commencement of this Act which has been registered under the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912 or under any other Act relating to cooperative societies in force, in any State or in pursuance of the provisions of the Multi-unit Cooperative Societies Act, 1942, shall be deemed to be registered under the corresponding provisions of this Act, and the bye-laws of such society shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, or the rules, continue to be in force until altered or rescinded.

2.     All appointments, rules and orders made, all notifications and notices issued and all suits and other proceedings instituted under any of the Acts referred to in sub-section (1) shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been respectively made, issued and instituted under this Act, save that an order made cancelling the registration of a multi-State cooperative society shall be deemed, unless the society has already been finally liquidated, to be an order made under section 77 for its being wound up.

1.     f the Central Government is satisfied that any multi-State cooperative society should be designated as a national cooperative society or any national cooperative society specified in the second Schedule should be omitted from the said Schedule, it may, by notification, amend the said Schedule so as to include there in such multi-State cooperative society or exclude therefrom such national cooperative society, and thereupon the said Schedule shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly.

2.     A copy of every notification made under sub-section (1) shall be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as may be after it is made.

1.     Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no court shall have jurisdiction in respect of -

a.     the registration of a multi-State cooperative society or its bye-laws or of an amendment of the bye-laws;

b.    the removal of board of directors;

c.     any dispute required under section 74 to be referred to the Central Registrar; and

d.    any matter concerning the winding up and the dissolution of a multi State cooperative society.

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2.     While a multi-State cooperative society is being wound up, no suit or other legal proceedings relating to the business of such society, shall be proceeded with or instituted against the liquidator or against the society or any member thereof, except by leave of the Central Registrar and subject to such terms and conditions as he may impose.

3.     Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no decision or order made under this Act shall be questioned in any court.

1.     In exercising the functions conferred on him by or under this Act, the Central Registrar, or any other person deciding a dispute under section 76 and the liquidator of a multi-State cooperative society and a person entitled to audit, inspect or hold an inquiry under this Act, shall have all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in respect of the following matters, namely:-

a.     summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;

b.    requiring the discovery and production of any document;

c.     proof of facts by affidavits; and

d.    issuing commissions for examination of witnesses.

1.      

2.     In the case of an affidavit, any officer appointed by the Central Registrar, or any other person deciding a dispute or the liquidator, as the case may be, may administer oath to the deponent.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Central Registrar or any person subordinate to him or acting on his authority or against any other person in respect of anything in good faith done or purporting to have been done under this Act.

1.     Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in any law relating to cooperative societies in force in a State, a multi-State cooperative society, not being a cooperative bank, may open branches or places of business in any place in India.

2.     Where a multi-State cooperative society opens branches or places of business in any State under sub-section (1), the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in such State shall not exercise any jurisdiction in relation to such branches or places of business nor shall call for any returns or information there from.

1.     The Central Government may, by notification, make rules to carry out the provisions of the Act.

2.     In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-

              i.        the form to be used, the particulars to be given and the conditions to be complied with in the making of applications under section 6 for the registration of a multi-State cooperative society and the procedure in the matter of such applications.

             ii.        the number of the applicants and the manner in which the order of refusal to register a multi-State cooperative society and its bye-laws shall be communicated under sub-section (2) of section 7;

            iii.        the manner in which the order of refusal to register any amendment of the bye-laws shall be communicated under sub-section (4) of section 9 and section 18;

            iv.        the procedure and conditions for change in the extent of the liability of a multi-State cooperative society under section 13;

             v.        the matters in respect of which a multi-State cooperative society may make bye-laws and the procedure to be followed in making, altering and abrogating bye-laws under section 9 or section 18 and the conditions to be satisfied prior to such making, alteration or abrogation.

            vi.        the conditions to be complied with under section 19 by persons applying for admission as members, for the election and admission of members and the payment to be made and the interest to be acquired before the exercise of the right of membership;

           vii.        the number of individuals who may be admitted as members of the National Cooperative Union of India Limited, New Delhi as required by section 19 and their qualifications;

          viii.        the withdrawal and expulsion of members and the payments, if any, to be made to members who withdraw or are expelled and the liability of past members or the estates of deceased members;

            ix.        the votes of members, as required by section 22;

             x.        the maximum number of shares of a multi-State cooperative society which may subject to the provisions of section 24, be held by a member;

            xi.        the constitution and powers of a smaller body representing the general body under section 29.

           xii.        general meeting of the members under section 30, the period within which such meeting be called and the procedure at such meetings and the powers to be exercised by such meetings;

          xiii.        the proportion of individuals and multi-State cooperative societies in the constitution of the board of directors and the general body under section 32;

         xiv.        the election of members of the boards under section 35 and nomination of members to such boards under section 41, the appointment, or election of officers and the powers to be exercised and the duties to be performed by the boards and other officers;

          xv.        the restrictions and conditions subject to which honorarium may be paid under section 38 to the elected chairman or president of the board of directors for services rendered;

         xvi.        the additional measures and acts which may be taken or, as the case may be, done by the board under section 42;

        xvii.        the number of meetings of the board, the venue of such meetings and the number of committees or sub-committees for purposes of sections 43 and 46;

       xviii.        the appointment and regulation of work entrusted to persons replacing the board in pursuance of section 48;

         xix.        the constitution of a body of persons under section 50 for the preparation of a list of persons eligible for appointment to the posts of Chief Executive and other management posts in national cooperative societies and the amount of the maximum pay-scale applicable to such posts;

          xx.        the recruitment, remuneration, allowances and other conditions of service of officers and other employees of national cooperative societies under section 50;

         xxi.        prohibiting a multi-State cooperative society from electing a defaulting member, or a representative of defaulting member-society, on its board;

        xxii.        the returns to be submitted by a multi-State cooperative society to the Central Registrar, the persons by whom and the form in which such returns shall be submitted and in case of failure to submit any such returns, the levy of expenses of preparing it.

       xxiii.        the persons by whom and the form in which copies of entries in books of multi-State cooperative societies may be certified under section 56 and the charges to be levied for the supply of such copies;

       xxiv.        the terms and conditions on which the Central Government may make share capital contribution or give financial or other assistance to multi-State cooperative societies under section 59 and the terms and conditions on which the Central Government may guarantee the payment of the principal or interest on debentures issued by multi-State cooperative societies or loans or deposits raised by them;

        xxv.        the procedure to be followed in proceedings before the Central Registrar or other persons deciding disputes including the appointment of a guardian for a party to the dispute who is a minor or who, by reason of unsoundness of mind or mental infirmity, is incapable of protecting his interest, and the levy of expenses relating to such proceedings;

       xxvi.        The mode in which the value of a deceased member's share or interests shall be ascertained and the nomination of a person to whom such share or interest may be paid or transferred;

      xxvii.        the payments to be made and conditions to be complied with by members applying for loans, the period for which any loans may be made and the maximum amount which may be lent to any members;

     xxviii.        the formation and maintenance of reserve funds and other funds under section 61 and the objects to which such funds may be applied, and the investment of any funds under the control of a multi-State cooperative society under section 62;

       xxix.        the conditions under which profits may be distributed under section 61 to the members of a multi-State cooperative society and the maximum rate of dividend which may be paid by multi-State cooperative societies;

        xxx.        the prohibitions and restrictions subject to which multi-State cooperative societies may, under section 65, transact business with persons who are not members;

       xxxi.        the accounts and books to be kept by a multi-State cooperative society and the audit of such accounts and the charges, if any, to be made for such audit under section 67 and the periodical publication of a balance sheet showing the assets and liabilities of a multi-State cooperative society;

      xxxii.        the calculation and writing off of bad debts by multi State Cooperative societies;

     xxxiii.        the appointment of persons for settlement of disputes under section 76;

     xxxiv.        the procedure to be followed by a liquidator appointed under section 80 in respect of provisions of section 81.

      xxxv.        the manner in which the surplus assets may be divided amongst the members of the multi-State cooperative society under section 82;

     xxxvi.        the procedure for execution of decisions under section 85;

    xxxvii.        the procedure to be followed in presenting and disposing of appeals under section 90;

   xxxviii.        the issue and service of processes and for proof of service thereof;

     xxxix.        the manner of effecting attachment;

            xl.        the custody, preservation and sale of property under attachment;

           xli.        the investigation of claims by persons other than the defaulter to any right or interest in the attached property, and the postponement of sale pending such investigation;

          xlii.        the immediate sale of perishable articles;

         xliii.        the inspection of documents in the office of the Central Registrar or of any other officer or authority and the levy of fees for granting certified copies of the same;

        xliv.        the manner in which funds may be raised by multi-State cooperative society or a class of multi-State cooperative societies by means of shares or debentures or otherwise and the quantum of funds so raised;

         xlv.        the procedure under section 95 for reconstitution and reorganisation of societies which become multi-State cooperative societies consequent on reorganisation of a State;

        xlvi.        the method of communicating or publishing any decision or order required to be communicated or published under this Act or the rules;

       xlvii.        the manner and the periodicity or returns of pending cases of registration of multi-State cooperative societies and amendments of bye-laws to be sent by the Central Registrar to the Central Government;

      xlviii.        any other matter which is required to be, or may be prescribed.

1.      

2.      

3.     Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in sessions for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification to the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity or anything previously done under that rule.

The Multi-unit Cooperative Societies Act, 1942 is hereby repealed.

First Schedule

See Section 3 (f)

Cooperative Principles

1.     Membership of a multi-State cooperative society (hereafter in this Schedule referred to as the society) should be voluntary and open, without any social, political, or religious discrimination, to all persons who can make use of its services.

2.     In a society other than that with institutional membership, individual member should enjoy equal rights of voting - one member, one vote.

3.    

              i.        Surplus or savings, if any, arising out of the operations of the society belong to the society as a whole and no individual member has a claim to the surplus.

             ii.        The surplus should be utilised for all or any of the following purposes, namely:-

a.     providing for development of the business of the society;

b.    providing services for the common enjoyment of members;

c.     distribution among the memers in proportion to their transactions with the society.

1.      

2.      

3.      

4.     The society should undertake education of its members, office-bearers and employees and the general public regarding the principles and practice of cooperation.

5.     The society should actively cooperate in every practical way with other cooperative societies at local, national or international levels.

6.     The share capital of a society shall receive strictly limited rate of interest (that is to say dividend).

7.     The affairs of a society should be administered by the management in accordance with democratically expressed will of the members. 8. The management of the society is accountable to its own members.

Second Schedule

(See Section 3 (m) and 104)

List of national cooperative societies

1.     National Cooperative Land Development Banks Federation Limited, Hyderabad.

2.     National Federation of State Cooperative Banks Limited, Bombay.

3.     National Cooperative Union of India Limited, New Delhi.

4.     National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited, New Delhi.

5.     National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited, New Delhi.

6.     National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited, New Delhi.

7.     National Federation of Industrial Cooperatives Limited, New Delhi.

8.     National Cooperative Housing Federation Limited, New Delhi.

9.     Indian Farmers' Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, New Delhi.

10.  All India Federation of Cooperative Spinning Mills Limited, Bombay.

11.  All India Industrial Cooperative Banks' Federation Limited, Bangalore.

12.  National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited, New Delhi.

13.  Petrofils Cooperative Limited, New Delhi.

14.  National Heavy Engineering Cooperative Limited, New Delhi.

15.  The All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society Limited, Bombay.

16.  The National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Limited, New Delhi.

17.  Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited, New Delhi.

18.  National Federation of Fishermen's Cooperative Limited, New Delhi.

19.  National Federation of Labour Cooperatives Limited, New Delhi.

20.  National Cooperative Tobacco Growers' Federation Limited, Anand.