State Co-operative Election Authority and its function.

46[(1) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint an officer of the State Government, as the State Cooperative Election Authority, hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the Authority, in such manner, as may be prescribed, and may appoint such other officers and staff to assist such Authority, as it may deem fit.

1. (2) The terms and conditions of the service of the Authority and other officers and staff appointed under sub-section (1) shall be such as may be prescribed. 47[ (3) The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, elections to such co-operative societies, as may be prescribed in the rules, shall vest in the Authority: Provided that in other societies, elections shall be held in the general body meeting of the society as per the procedure laid down therefor in the rules.]
2. (4) The State Government may prescribe procedure and guidelines for conduct of elections to the co-operative societies.
3. (5) For the purpose of this Chapter, the Zonal Registrars, Cooperative Societies posted at zone level and Unit officer posted at the unit level shall act as ex-officio Zonal Returning Officer and Unit Returning Officer respectively and shall be answerable to the Authority for discharging the duties entrusted to them by the Authority.
4. (6) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 27, the Authority shall conduct elections for filling a casual vacancy occurring in the committee of a society for the remainder of the term of the committee, within six months of the occurrence of such vacancy.]