The President elected under this sub-section shall be an ex-officio member of the committee.

General meetings and committee meetings General meetings and committee meetings: [Rule 23, 23A, 23B, 23AA, 26]

1. (1) The committee may, at any time, call not less than two general meetings of a society in a co-operative year: Provided that one meeting shall be held in each half year. (1-A) If the general meeting is not convened in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1), the members of the Committee shall cease to hold office on the day next after the 1st day on which the general meeting should have been held, and it shall be competent for the Registrar, notwithstanding anything in the bye-laws, to call such general meeting in such manner as may be prescribed.
2. (2) The committee shall call a general meeting of the society within thirty days of the date of receipt of a requisition in writing from
   • (i) such number of members or proportion of the total number of members, as may be specified in the bye-laws ;
   • (ii) the financing bank to which the society is indebted ;
   • (iii) a federal society to which the society is affiliated ; or
   • (iv) the Registrar.
3. (3) It shall be the duty of the President of the society to call the meetings of the committee so that atleast one meeting of the committee is held in every three months. If the President fails to discharge that duty with the result that no meeting is held, within such period of three months or within one month following such period, he shall with effect from the date of expiration of one month aforesaid cease to be the President : Provided that it shall also be the duty of the President to call such meetings within fifteen days of the date of receipt of requisition in writing in that behalf from any of the requisitionists specified in sub-section (2).
4. (4) The requisition referred to in sub-section
5. (2) or sub-section
6. (3) shall specify the purpose for which the meeting is to be called, and shall be signed by the requisitionists and delivered in person or by registered post at the registered address of the society.
7. (5) (a) If for any reason, a meeting is not called in accordance with the requisition delivered under sub-section (4), or if, in the opinion of the Registrar there is no committee or officer competent under this Act, the rules or the bye-laws to call a meeting, or if there be a dispute regarding the competence of the committee to function, then notwithstanding anything in the bye-laws of the society, the Registrar shall have the power to call such meeting in the manner prescribed, and to determine the time for such meeting and the subjects to be considered thereat. The Registrar or a person authorised by him in writing in this behalf shall preside at such meeting, but he shall not be entitled to vote.
   • (b) (i)If, at any general meeting of the society called by the Registrar himself under clause (a), otherwise than in pursuance of the requisition, there is no quorum, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such other date and time as the Registrar may determine.
     • (ii) If at the adjourned meeting also there is no quorum for holding the meeting, the members present shall constitute the quorum.
   • (c) If at any general meeting of the society called by the Registrar himself under clause
   • (a) in pursuance of the requisition, there is no quorum, the requisition shall lapse.
8. (6) Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, if at any time the Government are satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for them to call a general meeting for election of members of the committee to be held in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Government or any person authorised by them in this behalf shall have power to call such meeting and to determine the place, time and the period of notice for such meeting. If at such meeting, there is no quorum, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such other date and time as the Government or person authorised may determine. If at the adjourned meeting also there is no quorum for holding the meeting, the members present shall constitute the quorum. When the meeting is called by the Government it shall be presided over by a person appointed by them in that behalf and if the meeting is called by the person authorised by the Government, the person so authorised shall preside at such meeting ; but the person presiding shall not be entitled to vote at the meeting so called or adjourned.
9. (7) (a)(i) If there is no committee or in the opinion of the Government or, the Registrar, it is not possible to call a general meeting for the purpose of conducting election of members of the committee, the Government, in respect of such class of societies as may be prescribed and the Registrar in all other cases may appoint a person or persons to manage the affairs of the society for a period not exceeding six months and the Government may, on their own and the Registrar with the previous approval of the Government, extend, from time to time, such period beyond six months, so however that the aggregate period include the extended period if any, shall not exceed three years.
   • (ii) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, in the special circumstances and for the reasons to be recorded, if in the opinion of the Government, it is not possible to hold the elections to the societies or class of societies, the Government may by order extend the term of the person or the persons appointed to manage the affairs of the society or class of societies beyond three years but not exceeding five years in aggregate.
   • (b) The person or persons so appointed shall, subject to the control of the Government or as the case may be, of the Registrar and subject to such instructions or directions as they may issue, from time to time, have power to exercise all or any of the functions of the committee or any officer of the society and to take all such actions as may be required in the interest of the society.
   • (c) The Registrar may fix the remuneration payable to the person or persons so appointed. The amount of such remuneration and other costs if any, incurred in the management of the society shall be payable out of the funds of the society.
   • (d) The Registrar may at any time, and shall at the expiration of the period of appointment of person or persons so appointed, arrange for calling of a general meeting for the election of a new committee in such manner as may be prescribed. The person or persons so appointed shall cease to manage the affairs of the society on the new committee entering upon its office.
10. (8) All the expenses incurred in connection with a meeting held under this section shall be paid out of the funds of the society : Provided that the Registrar may by order direct that such expenses shall, in a case falling under sub-section
11. (5) be recovered from any person who is, in the opinion of the Registrar, responsible for the failure to call the meeting.