Constitution of State Co-operative Council, its functions, etc.

(1)(a) There shall be Council to be called the Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Council consisting of the following members, namely:- (i) Ministers, by whatever designation they may be called, dealing with the co-operative societies in the State; (ii) Chairmen of apex societies; (iii) five members to be nominated by the State Government out of which one shall be a woman, one a person belonging to a scheduled caste and one a person belonging to a scheduled tribe; (iv) three members to be elected by the members of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from amongst themselves; (v) the Secretary to the Government in the department dealing with co-operative societies; (vi) the Registrar of co-operative societies, Himachal Pradesh; (vii) the Director of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh; and (viii) the Director of Industries, Himachal Pradesh. (b) The Minister-in-charge of the department dealing with the co-operative societies shall be the Chairman of the Council. (c) The Minister of State, if he is not the Chairman of the Council under clause (b) or in case there is no such Minister of State dealing with the co-operative societies, the Deputy Minister of the department of co-operative societies, shall be the Vice-Chairman of the Council: Provided that if there is no such Minister of State or the Deputy Minister dealing with the co-operative societies to be the Vice Chairman or if such Minister of State or the Deputy Minister, as the case may be, happens to be the Chairman under clause (b) the Vice-Chairman shall be elected by the Council from amongst its members. (2) Such officer as State Government may appoint in this behalf shall act as the Secretary to the Council. (3) The functions of the Council so constituted shall be as follows:- (a) to advise the State Government on all general questions relating to co-operative movement; (b) to review the co-operative movement and to suggest ways of co-ordinating the activities of the co-operative societies in the State; (c) to suggest ways and means to remove the difficulties experienced by the co-operative societies in the State in their administration; (d) to make suo- motu recommendations to the State Government in regard to any matter relating the administration of co-operative societies; and (e) to report to the State Government on such matters as may be referred to it by the State Government for its opinion. (4) The State Government may by general or special order provide for:- (a) the calling of the meetings of the Council and the procedure at meetings; (b) duties of the Secretary to the Council; (c) sub-committees of the Council; (d) the term of office of nominated members of the Council and travelling allowance and daily allowance admissible to the members of the Council.