Amending Act 24 of 2001

To achieve better results in the Co-operative Field and to over come certain difficulties encountered in the effective implementation of the existing provisions of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959. It is considered necessary to amend the Act to provide for the following, namely:- (1) To enlarge the definition of "Assisted Society" by including even societies which receive assistance in the form of loan or grant or guarantee for repayment of loan or interest. (2) To restore the earlier provision providing for appointment of a person as the Director of Co-operative Audit. (3) To omit section 2B as it is redundant in view of the provisions contained in the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal Act, 1976. (4) To provide for levy of fee in respect of amendment of bye-laws of Co-operative Societies. (5) To provide for admission of Self Help Groups as nominal members of a society. (6) To have a specific provisions indicating when a person shall cease to be a member of a Co-operative Society. (7) To restore earlier provision providing for expension of time by the Registrar to convene the Annual General Body Meeting of a Society by a period not exceeding six months. (8) To enhance the total of members of an Apex Society from the existing 25 to 32 and in the case of an urban co-operative bank having an area of operation not beyond a district to enhance it upto 15 members. (9) To reduce the term of office of the members of the Committee from the existing five co-operative years to three co-operative years. (10) To provide that the nominated members shall not have right to become bearers of a primary co-operative society and any other class or classes of co-operative society as may be specified by the Government and to provide that the members so nominated shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government. (11) To provide for disqualification under certain circumstances in the case of a person who represents a co-operative society in the Committee of District Central Society or with a Federal society or an Apex society. (12) To reduce the term of office of the office bearers from the existing two and half years to one year. (13) To provide for appointment and removal of the Chief Executive of an assisted Society by the Government or Registrar. (14) To provide for supercession of a Committee even in case of violation of any direction issued under section 30B and to provide for further extension of period of appointment of an Administrator up to one year in aggregate. (15) To restore the earlier provision providing for appointment of a Special Officer to a society by the State Government on a report made by the Registrar. (16) To empower the Registrar to extend the period of appointment of a special officer under section 31 for a further period of one year in the aggregate. (17) To provide for postponement of election of co-operative societies in the case of natural calamities et., (18) To restore earlier provision providing for audit of all co-operative societies by the Director of co-operative Audit. (19) To provide explicitly for initiation of surcharge proceedings against Government nominees and ex-officio members. (20) To restore earlier provision providing for exemption of societies from the applicability of the provisions of the Act subject to the modification that it shall not apply to section 30A. (21) To provide for submission of copies or resolution or order to the Registrar by the Chief Executive and for rescinding or canceling the resolution or order under certain circumstances. Certain incidental provisions are also made. Hence the Bill. (obtained from LA Bill No. 32 of 2000)