Co-operative Societies

• The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 gave a constitutional status to co-operative societies.
• The “co-operative societies” is a subject enumerated in Entry 32 of the state list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

Three provisions

1. Right to form co-operative societies a fundamental right (Article 19).

2. It included a new Directive Principle of State Policy (Article 43-B).

3. It added a new Part IX-B in the Constitution, “The Co-operative Societies” (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT).

Constitutional provisions

• Incorporation of Co-operative Societies .
• Number and Term of Members of Board and its Office Bearers.
• Election of Members of Board
.
• Supersession and Suspension of Board and Interim Management.
• Audit of Accounts of Co-operative Societies.
• Convening of General Body Meetings.
• Right of a Member to Get Information.
• Returns report to be submitted to the authority designated by the State Government.
• Offences and Penalties: The state legislature may make provisions regarding this.
• Application to Multi-state Co-operative Societies.
• Application to Union Territories.

Important Articles

• 243ZI Incorporation of Co-operative Societies
• 243ZK Election of Members of Board
• 243ZM Audit of Accounts of Co-operative Societies
• 243ZR Application to Multi-state Co-operative Societies
• 243ZS Application to Union Territories