Amendment of Section 50-B.

For Section 50-B of the Principal Act, the following shall be substituted, namely:-"50-B. State Co-operative Election Commission.- (1) There shall be a State Co-operative Election Commission (hereinafter referred to as the State Election Commission) for the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to a co-operative society under the provision of this Act and rules made thereunder. (2) The State Government shall appoint any officer of the Indian Administrative Service not below the rank of Principal Secretary, who has served in the Government of Chhattisgarh, as the State Co-operative Election Commissioner to conduct all elections to co-operative societies under this Act or rules made thereunder. (3) The qualification, disqualification, term and conditions of service of the State Co-operative Election Commissioner shall be such as may be prescribed. (4) The State Government shall appoint on deputation any person, holding a post not below the rank of Deputy Registrar, as the Secretary to the Commission. (5) (a) The State Government shall provide the Commission with such officers and staff, as may be necessary, for the performance of its functions. (b) The Commission shall appoint a Returning Officer in the manner, as may be prescribed, to conduct election to the Board of a society and its office-bearers and also to fill up casual vacancies as provided in Section 49 of this Act and the Commission, if it thinks necessary, may also appoint zonal or other officers for the purpose of supervision and control of election. (6) The Commission shall notify the code of conduct to be followed by the candidates, functionaries engaged in the process of election and others for enabling free and fair election. (7) The Commission shall have the powers to seek requisition of the services of other officers for aiding and assisting in the election and such requisitioned Officers shall be under the overall supervision and control of the Commission during the election. (8) (a) The election of members of the Board of Directors shall be conducted before the expiry of the term of Board of Directors, so as to ensure that the newly elected members of the Board of Directors assume office immediately on the expiry of the term of members of the outgoing Board of Directors. (b) The Commission shall conduct elections of all co-operative societies registered under the Act in such manner, as may be prescribed. (c) The outgoing Board of every co-operative society shall send a written request in such manner, as may be prescribed, to the Commission to conduct the election of its Board within six months prior to the expiry of the term of the existing Board. (d) On receipt of the request under clause (c), the Commission shall ensure that the election is conducted before the expiry of the term of existing Board. (e) It shall be the duty of the Board to ensure that all information, books and records, which may be required by the Commission for the purpose of election, are kept up dated and made available in time to the Commission or any official authorized by it for this purpose. (f) The Board shall also ensure that all assistance to the Commission is provided as and when required by it for conduct of the election. (9) All expenses incurred in conducting elections of the Board shall be paid to the Commission, in advance, by the State Government and the same shall be recovered from such society by the State Government in the manner as may be prescribed by it. (10) The Commission may issue such instructions to the Board or its members, which it may consider reasonable for conducting free and fair election and such instructions issued under this Section shall be binding on Board or its members."