General meetings and committee meetings

(1) The committee may, at any time, call not less than two general meetings of a society in a co-operative year: Provided that one meeting shall be held in each half year. (1-e). At least one General Meeting in a year shall be held in the presence of representative/nominee of the Registrar who attends the meeting as observer. The Registrar shall nominate a representative for this purpose at the request of President of the society. The request to the Registrar for this purpose shall be made by the President of the society atleast 15 days before the General Meeting. The observer should submit a report on the proceedings of the General Meeting specifically mentioning deviations or violations of Act, if any, within a week of completion of the General Meeting to the Registrar. (1A) If the general meeting is not convened in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1), the members of the committee shall cease to hold office on the day next after the last day on which the general meeting should have been held, and it shall be competent for the Registrar, notwithstanding anything in the bye-laws, to call such general meeting in such manner as may be prescribed. (2) The committee shall call a general meeting of the society within thirty days of the date of receipt of a requisition in writing from- (i) such number of members or proportion of the total number of members, as may be specified in the bye-laws; (ii) the financing bank to which the society is indebted; (iii) a federal society to which the society is affiliated; or (iv) the Registrar. (3) It shall be the duty of the President of the society to call the meetings of the committee so that atleast one meeting of the committee is held in every three months. If the President fails to discharge that duty with the result that no meeting is held, within such period of three months or within one month following such period, he shall with effect from the date of expiration of one month aforesaid cease to be the President. The Registrar shall issue orders to that effect: Provided that it shall also be the duty of the President to call such meetings within fifteen days of the date of receipt of requisition in writing in that behalf from any of the requisitionists specified in sub-section (2). (4) The requisition referred to in sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) shall specify the purpose for which the meeting is to be called, and shall be signed by the requisition and delivered in person or by registered post at the registered address of the society. (5) (a) If for any reason, a meeting is not called in accordance with the requisition delivered under sub-section (4), notwithstanding anything in the bye-laws of the society, the Registrar shall have the power to call such meeting in the manner prescribed and to determine the time for such meeting and the subjects to be considered thereat. The Registrar or a person authorized by him in writing in this behalf shall preside at such meeting, but he shall not be entitled to vote. (b) (i) If, at any general meeting of the society called by the Registrar himself under clause (a), otherwise than in pursuance of the requisition, there is no quorum, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such other date and time as the Registrar may determine. (ii) If at the adjourned meeting also there is no quorum for holding the meeting, the members present shall constitute the quorum. (c) If at any general meeting of the society called by the Registrar himself under clause (a) in pursuance of the requisition, there is no quorum, the requisition shall lapse. (6) Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, if at any time the State Cooperative Election Authority is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for it to call a general meeting for such election of members of the committee to be held in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the State Cooperative Election Authority or any person authorised by them in this behalf shall have power to call such meeting and to determine the place, time and the period of notice for such meeting. If at such meeting, there is no quorum, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such other date and time as the State Cooperative Election Authority or person authorised may determine. If at the adjourned meeting also there is no quorum for holding the meeting, the members present shall constitute the quorum. When the meeting is called by the State Cooperative Election Authority, it shall be presided over by a person appointed by them in that behalf and if the meeting is called by the person authorised by the State Cooperative Election Authority, the person so authorised shall preside at such meeting; but the person presiding shall not be entitled to vote at the meeting so called or adjourned. (7) (a) (i) If there is no Committee or in the opinion of the Government or, the Registrar, it is not possible to call a general meeting for the purpose of conducting election of members of the committee, the Government, in respect of such classes of societies as may be prescribed and the Registrar in all other cases may appoint a person or persons to manage the affairs of the society for a period not exceeding six months and the Government may, on their own and the Registrar with the previous approval of the Government, extend, from time to time, such period beyond one year, so however that the aggregate period including the extended period if any, shall not exceed three years. (ii) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, in the special circumstances and for the reasons to be recorded, if in the opinion of the Government, it is not possible to hold the elections to the societies or class of societies, the Government may by order extend the term of the person or the persons appointed to manage the affairs of the society or class of societies beyond three years. (b) The person or persons so appointed shall, subject to the control of the Government or as the case may be, of the Registrar and subject to such instructions or directions as they may issue, from time to time, have power to exercise all or any of the functions of the committee or any officer of the society and to take all such actions as may be required in the interest of the society. (c) The Registrar may fix the remuneration payable to the person or persons so appointed. The amount of such remuneration and other costs, if any, incurred in the management of the society shall be payable out of the funds of the society. (d) The Registrar may at any time, and shall at the expiration of the period of appointment of person or persons so appointed arrange for the calling of a general meeting for the election of a new committee in such manner as may be prescribed. The person or persons so appointed shall cease to manage the affairs of the society on the new committee entering upon its office.