State Co-operative Election Commission

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in the rules, the Government shall by notification in the Gazette, constitute a State Co-operative Election Commission for the superintendence, directions and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and for the conduct of all elections to Co-operative Societies including election to the President/Vice-President and Representative General Body. (2)The State Co-operative Election Commission shall consist of not more than three members, one among them shall be the State Chief Co-operative Election Commissioner and others shall be Commissioners. The State Chief Co-operative Election Commissioner shall be an officer not below the rank of Special Secretary to Government. The commissioners shall be persons, who are or have been Officers of the Department of Co-operation, not below the rank of Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies. The appointment of State Chief Co-operative Election commissioner and the commissioners shall be for a period of five years from the date of assumption of office or sixty two years, whichever is earlier : Provided that in the case of officers in service, the Chief Election Commissioner and the commissioners shall vacate their offices on their date of superannuation: Provided further that, (i) The State Co-operative Election Commission shall in consultation with the Registrar have power to fix, alter or revise the maximum and minimum limit of election expenses to be spent by different classes of societies by special or general order; (ii)The Election Commission may fix fee or cost for election process, in accordance with rules made in this behalf; (iii)The procedure for payment of election fee or cost shall be such, as may be prescribed. (3)The State Co-operative Election Commission shall, in consultation with the Government and the Registrar, designate or nominate officers and employees of the Government to assist the Commission in the conduct of election to the committee and Representative General Body of such society. (4)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, by rule, make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with elections to the committee and Representative General Body of a society.