Section 38

(1) (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 26-A, every application for admission to the membership of a co- operative society shall be made to the Secretary who shall place such application as soon as possible, before the authority competent under the bye-laws of the society to take decision on the question of admission to the membership of the society (hereinafter referred to as the 'competent authority'). Explanation- For disposal of an application for admission as a nominal or associate member, an officer of the society may be authorised by the Committee of Management of the Society to be the competent authority. (b) The competent authority shall consider the application for admission to membership and take final decision either admitting or refusing to admit the applicant to the membership of the society. Such decision shall, except when it does not become possible for some unavoidable reasons, be taken- (i) in the case of nominal or associate membership, as early as possible after the receipt of the application in the society and will be communicated, and (ii) in any other case, within thirty five days of the receipt of the application in the society. The decision shall be communicated to the applicant within seven days of the date of the decision. (c) If the decision on the application for admission to membership is not taken and communicated to the applicant within- (i) Thirty days of the receipt of application in the case of nominal or associate membership, and (ii) Sixty days of the receipt of application in the case of ordinary membership the application shall be deemed to have been rejected. (2) No person shall be admitted as a member of a co-operative society unless:- (i) he fulfils the qualifications for membership as laid down in the Act, Rules and the Bye-laws of the society; (ii) he has applied for membership of the society in the manner laid down in the Bye-laws of the society; (iii) he has been approved for the membership in the bye-laws of he society; (iv) in case of nominal and officiate membership his application shall be approved by the officer of the adhoc authorized committee assigned by the Management Committee.