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Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Act
- Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Act
- Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Rules

Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Act

The Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Act

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An Act to facilitate the formation and working of Co-operative Societies and to consolidate and amend the law relating to Co-operative Societies in Meghalaya

Preamble. - Whereas it is expedient further to facilitate the formation and working of Co-operative Societies for the purpose of thrift, self-help, mutual aid and creating the quality of credit worthiness among agriculturists, artisans and other persons with common economic needs so as to bring about a higher standard of living better business, better methods of production, equitable distribution and exchange and for that purpose to consolidate and amend the law relating to Cooperative Societies in Meghalaya :

It is hereby enacted as follows :

Chapter I

Preliminary

1. Short title, extent and commencement. - (1) This act may be called the Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Act.

(2) [* * *]

(3) [* * *]

2. Definitions. - In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context-

(a) "Administrative Council or Board of Directors" means a body intermediary between Managing Committee/Executive Committee by whatever name called and include the General Assembly of a Registered Society.

(b) "Affiliating Society" means the registered society of which a particular society is a member and "Affiliated Society" means the particular society which is a member of the affiliating society ;

(d) "Audit Officer" means a person appointed under the provisions of this Act to audit the accounts of a registered society ;

(e) "Bye-law" refers to the registered bye-laws for the time being in force and includes a registered amendment of bye-laws ;

(f) "Co-operative Year" means the period beginning and ending on such dates as may be fixed by the Registrar for the purpose of drawing up the balance sheets of registered societies ;

(g) "Co-operative Demand Certificate" means a certificate as defined in Section 83 ;

(h) "Employee" means a person not being an office-bearer, employed by a registered society on a salary or similar form of remuneration other than advance patronage dividend or payment for goods sold to or through such society ;

(i) "General Assembly" means the supreme body of a registered society as defined in Section 31 ;

(j) "Managing Body" means the body to which the management of the affairs of a registered society is directly entrusted and does not include the Administrative Council;

(k) "Member" means a person admitted to membership after registration in accordance with the bye-laws and rules of the society and includes a promoter ;

(l) "Officer-bearer" means a member duly elected by the appropriate body of a registered society, according to its bye-laws to any office of such society, including the office of President Chairman, Vice-President, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Managing Director and Treasurer ; provided that any officer appointed by Government of Meghalaya to hold charge of any office of a registered society shall be deemed to be an office-bearer unless specifically stated to be contrary ;

(m) "Prescribed" means a prescribed by rules ;

(n) "Promoter" means any eligible person or registered society signing the application for registration of a society ;

(o) "Registered Society" means a co-operative society registered of deemed to have been registered under this Act and includes society formed after amalgamation of such two or more societies or by division of such an existing society ;

(p) "Registrar" means a person appointed to perform the duties of a Registrar of Co-operative Societies under this Act :

(q) "Rules" means rules made under this Act ;

(r) "Signature" includes the thumb-impression of an illiterate person, and

(s) "Tribunal" means a body of officials appointed by the State Government to arbitrate dispute involving recovery of overdue loans.

Chapter II

Registration of Societies

3. The Registrar. - (1) The Government of Meghalaya may appoint a person to be a Registrar of Co-operative Societies for Meghalaya or any portion of it for the registration, supervision assistance, counsel and control of registered societies and for the development of the co-operative movement and control over all co-operative education and with such other powers and responsibilities as may be provided under this Act or rules or bye-laws framed thereunder.

(2) The Government of Meghalaya may also appoint persons to assist the Registrar and may, by general or special order in writing delegate to any such person or to any other Government Officer all or any of the powers of the Registrar under this Act.

(3) The Government of Meghalaya may also appoint non-official helpers with such designations and functions as prescribed to aid in the organisation of Co-operative Societies.

4. (1) Societies which may be registered. - A Society which has its objects the promotion of the economic interest or general welfare of its members or of the public thought self help and mutual aid in accordance with Cooperative principles or a society established with the object of facilitating the operations of any society may be registered under this Act with limited liability.

(2) No society shall be registered if in the opinion of the Registrar, its declared objects are unlikely to be achieved or it is likely to be economically unsound or it may have an adverse effect upon any registered society or the Co-operative Movement as a whole.

5. Age, qualification of a member. - No person may be an individual member of a registered society if he is above eighteen years of age ; provided that the bye-laws of a society may prescribe a higher minimum age.

6. Conditions of registration. - (1) No society, other than a society of which a member is a registered society, shall be registered under this Act which does not consist of at least fifteen eligible persons and in case where the primary object of the society is the creation of funds to be lent to its members, unless such persons reside in the same town, village or in the same Panchayat Area.

(2) The word "Limited" shall be the last word in the name of every society with limited liability registered under this act.

7. Restrictions on acquisition of shares in a society. - (1) No member of a registered society shall hold more than such portion of the share capital of the society as may be prescribed by the rules, or he bye-laws of the society.

(2) No member shall be allowed to acquire an additional share until he has paid in full the value of the whole or that portion of his share holding which he is required to pay in accordance with the bye-laws of his society.

8. Power of Registrar to decide certain questions. - All disputes regarding memberships for the purpose of the formation registration or continuance of society under this Act shall be decided by the Registrar.

9. Change of liability. - (1) Subject to the proviso to Section 4 and to any rules made in this behalf a registered society may, with the previous sanction of the Registrar, change its liability from limited to unlimited or from unlimited to limited :

Provided that-

(i) the society shall give notice in writing of its intention to change its liability to all its members and creditors ;

(ii) any member or creditor shall notwithstanding any bye-law or contract to the contrary, have the option of withdrawing his shares, deposits or loans, as the case may be within three months of the service of such notice on him and the change shall not take effect until all such claims have been satisfied ; and

(iii) any member or creditor, who does not exercise his option within the period aforesaid shall be deemed to have assented to the change.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the proviso to sub-section (1) no change shall take effect at once if all the members and creditors assent thereto.

(3) The Registrar shall register the amendment of the bye- laws consequent on the change of liability ; provided that no person who ceases to be a member of the society before such amendment is registered shall be adversely affected by the change of liability.

10. Application for registration. - (1) An application of registration shall be made to the Registration or a person to whom such power of the Registrar in delegated in the prescribed form.

(2) The application shall be signed-

(a) in the case of a society of which no promoter is a registered society by at least fifteen eligible persons ; and

(b) in the case of a society of which at least one promoter is a registered society by a duly authorised person on behalf of such registered society and at least one other individual promoter or one other duly authorised person on behalf of another registered society.

(3) The application shall be accompanied by four copies of the proposed bye-laws of the society signed on behalf of the promoters by the president of the inaugural general meeting. Promoters by whom or on whose behalf such application is made shall furnish such information in regard to the society as the Registrar or a person to whom such power of the Registrar is delegated may require and they shall be liable to the full extent of the share money which they have undertaken to subscribe with effect from the date of registration of the society.

11. Registration. - (1) The Registrar shall decide all questions as to whether the application complies with the provisions of this Act and rules thereunder and whether the objects of the society are in accordance with Section 4.

(2) When he is satisfied that the application is in order under sub-section (1) and the proposed bye-laws are not contrary thereto, he may register the society and its bye-laws ; provided that the Registrar shall have powers to register the bye-laws with such modifications as he thinks are necessary to bring about uniformity in the main with the provisions of the bye-laws of societies which have similar objects or functions.

(3) The Registrar shall endorse the bye-laws in token of registration. Each society shall have a copy of its bye-laws so endorsed.

(4) If the Registrar refuses to register a society or an amendment of the bye-laws of a registered society he shall record his reasons in writing and communicate these reasons and his decision to the promoters or the Secretary of a registered society within four months from the date of receipt of the application for registration by a registered letter to their office. The Registrar may at any time review his orders in this respect.

Provided that if the application for registration is not disposed of within the specified period of four months or the Register fails to communicate the order of refusal within that period, the application shall be deemed to have been accepted for registration.

12. Evidence of registration. - A certificate of registration signed by the Registrar shall be issued to the society and shall be conclusive evidence that the co-operative society therein mentioned is a co-operative society duly registered under this Act and that its bye-laws are as attached to the certificate, unless it is proved that the registration of the society has been cancelled or that amended bye-laws have been registered or that the society's copy of the certificate or bye-laws has been tampered with.

13. Amendment of the bye-laws of a registered society. - (1) No amendment of the bye-laws of a registered society, whether by way of addition, alteration omission recession or change of name shall be valid until such amendment has been registered under this Act.

(2) Every proposal for such amendment shall have to be approved by a resolution at a meeting of the General Assembly in accordance with the bye-laws of the Society and be forwarded within a month from the date of the resolution to the Registrar : and if the Registrar is satisfied that the proposed amendment is not contrary to the provisions of this Act or rules, he shall unless for reasons to be recorded in writing he considers fit to refuse, register the amendment.

(3) When a Registrar registers an amendment of the bye-laws of a registered society, he shall issue to the society a copy of the amendment certificate by him, which shall be conclusive evidence that the same has been duly registered, unless it is proved that the registration of the society has been cancelled or that further amendments have been registered or that the society's copy of the amendments have been tampered with. The amendment shall be binding upon the society with effect from the date or registration.

14. Power of Registrar or affiliating society to direct amendment of bye-laws or adoption of rules of procedure. - (1) (i) When it appears to the Registrar that an amendment of the bye-laws of a registered society is necessary in the interests of such society or of the co-operative movement as a whole or for the purpose of bringing about uniformity in the main with the provisions of the bye-laws of societies which have similar objects or functions, he may, by an order in writing direct the society to amend its bye-laws in accordance with the amendment drafted and forwarded to the society by him within such time as he may specify in the order.

(ii) If the society fails to make such amendment within the time specified the Registrar shall, after giving the society an opportunity of representing its case, make such amendment himself and register the same. The Registrar shall then forward a copy thereof to the society together with a certificate signed by him w which shall be effective as prescribed in Section 13(3).

(iii) The Registrar shall not register any amendment of the bye-laws of a society, whether under this section or Section 13 of this Act, without the consent of the Government of Meghalaya if the effect of such amendment is to lessen the degree of control of the Government of Meghalaya or of the Registrar as already provided for in the bye-laws.

(iv) The Registrar may require any register society to frame rules of procedure under its bye-laws to given any part of its business and to send such rules lo him for prior approval.

(2) (i) When it appears to an affiliating society or a financing bank that an amendment of the bye-laws of a registered society which is a member of such society or debtor of financing bank is necessary in the interest of the society it may suggest to the affiliating society or the debtor society, as the case may be, to make such amendment within such time as it may specify. The affiliating society or the financing bank shall forward to the affiliated society or the debtor society, as the case may be, a draft of the suggested amendment of the bye-laws.

(ii) If the society fails to make the amendment within the time specified the affiliating society or the financing bank may forward to the Registrar the amendment and the Registrar if satisfied that the amendment is necessary in the interest of the society and not contrary to the provision of this Act or rules, may hereupon after giving an opportunity of showing cause to the society concerned against the proposed amendment, register he amendment and forward to the society a copy thereof together with a certificate signed by him. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the amendment has been registered and such amendment shall thereupon be binding upon the society and its members.

(iii) If the Registrar considers that the amendment referred to in Clause (ii) above is not acceptable, he shall submit a report to the Government.

(iv) An affiliating society or a financing bank or the registered society if aggrieved by a decision of the Registrar may prefer an appeal to the Government. The orders of the Government on such appeal shall be final.

(v) The State Government may out of its own motion or the Registrar subject to such direction as may be given by the Government amend the bye-laws of any society or groups of societies in the interest of the public service.

15. Division and amalgamation of societies. - (1) (i) Any registered society may, at a meeting of its General Assembly specially called for the purpose, resolve to divide into two or more societies. At least fifteen clear days notice of such meeting with the agenda shall be given to its members together with a copy of the proposed resolution.

(ii) Such a resolution shall contain the proposal as to how to divide the assets and liabilities of the society among the newly proposed societies, their areas of operation and the members who will constitute each of the newly proposed societies with draft new bye-laws.

(iii) A copy of the resolution shall be sent to the Registrar within thirty days of its adoption and subject to the Registrar's non-interference within thirty days of the despatch to him of the resolution, the resolution shall be circulated among the members and creditors of the society.

(iv) Notwithstanding any bye-laws to the contrary, any member of the society, and notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary any creditor of receipt of the resolution, intimate in case of a member his intention not to become a member of any of the societies, and in case of a creditor his intention to demand a return of the amount due to him.

(v) After the expiry of ninety days from the passing of the aforesaid resolution, a meeting of the General Assembly shall be convened for finally deciding the resolution. At least fifteen clear days notice with the agenda of the meeting shall be given to all members of the society.

(vi) If the General Assembly decides by a three fourth majority finally to divide the society and if the Registrar approves of the decision, the members who will constitute each of the newly proposed societies subscribing to the new draft bye-laws shall apply to the Register under Section 10 for registration of the new societies and the Registrar shall register the societies under Section 11.

(vii) The Registrar shall not register the new societies if the application for registration is not accompanied by a certificate or re-payment of share capital to members and certificate of satisfaction of claims to creditors referred to in Clause (iv).

(viii) From the date on which the new societies are registered under Clause (vi) the registration of the old society shall be deemed to have been cancelled.

(ix) The registration of the new societies shall be a sufficient conveyance to vest the assets and liabilities of the original society according to the aforesaid resolution in the new societies.

(2) (i) Two or more registered societies may, at a meeting of their respective General Assemblies specially convened for the purpose, by giving at least fifteen clear days notice to the respective members of the societies, resolve to amalgamate into one society by adopting common bye-laws.

(ii) A copy of such resolution of each society shall be circulated forthwith among all members and creditors thereof.

(iii) Notwithstanding any bye-laws to the contrary any member of any such societies and, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, any creditor of any such societies may within a period of thirty days from the receipt of the aforesaid resolution, intimate his intention not to become a member of the new society, in the case of a member, and to demand a return of the amount due to him, in the case of a creditor.

(iv) After the expiry of ninety days from the date of the aforesaid resolution, a joint meeting of the members of such societies shall be convened to decide finally the aforesaid resolution.

(v) At least fifteen clear days notice shall be given to all the members of the societies. If at such meeting the aforesaid resolution is confirmed by a majority of three fourths of the members of each society present and the common bye-laws are accepted with or without any alterations the Registrar shall be moved by an application under Section 10 for registration and he shall register the new society under Section 11 if he approves.

(vi) The Registrar shall not register the new society if the application for registration is not accompanied by a certificate of repayment of share capital to members and a certificate of satisfaction of claims of creditors referred to in Clause (iii).

(vii) From the date on which the new society is registered the registration of the old societies shall be deemed to have been cancelled.

(viii) The registration of the new society shall be a sufficient conveyance to vest in it shall the assets and liabilities of the original societies.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) and (2) if the Registrar is of the opinion that for reasons of ensuring economic viability of any registered society or societies or avoiding overlapping or conflict of jurisdiction of registered societies in any area or in order to secure proper management by any Co-operative Society or in the public interest, or in the interest of the Co-operative movement in the State as a whole, it is necessary to divide, amalgamate or merge fully or partially any such society or societies with any specific society, he may, by an order published in the Official Gazette make a scheme for division or amalgamation or merger with prior approval of the State Government.

Chapter III

Right and Liabilities of Members of Registered Societies

16. Member not to exercise rights till due payment made and conditions fulfilled. - No member of a registered society shall exercise the rights of a member unless or until he has made such payment to the society in respect of membership or acquired such interest in the society, as may be prescribed by the rules or bye-laws.

17. Votes of members. - (1) Irrespective of the shares he holds in the society and subject to any temporary disqualifications from voting which may be prescribed in bye-laws and to the provisions of Section 31 (2)(b) relating to voting by representatives a member of a registered society shall have one vote only in the affairs of the society :

Provided that in the case of an equality of votes the Chairman at any meeting shall have a second or casting vote ;

Provided further that the bye-laws of a society may provide for more than one vote in the case of an affiliated society.

(2) A registered society which is a member of another registered society may appoint one of its members qualified under any rule or bye-laws to vote in the affairs of such other society as its representative.

(3) Voting by proxy shall not be allowed except as prescribed in a registered society's bye-laws :

Provided that in registering the bye-laws of a society the Registrar shall not permit voting by proxy except in case, such as those involving a wide area of operation where it would be difficult for members to exercise their rights to vote, if voting by proxy were not permitted.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a register red society may by specific provisions made in its bye-laws, admit certain class of members without any voting right.

18. Member of unlimited society to furnish information as to his financial position. - (1) A full, true and accurate statement of his assets including his immovable properties and liabilities shall be furnished-

(a) by an applicant for membership of a register society with unlimited liability together with his application ;

(b) by a member of a registered society with unlimited liability when required to do so by the Registrar or any person authorised by him in this behalf or by the affiliating society.

(2) No member of a registered society with unlimited liability shall be a member of more than one such society.

(3) A member of a registered society with unlimited liability shall furnish to the society full, true and accurate information regarding his intention to transfer his immovable property, in whole or in part by way of sale, mortgage or gift at least fifteen days before completion of each such transaction.

19. Loan to be utilised for the purpose for which advanced. - The loan advanced by a registered society to a member thereof shall be utilised by him for the purpose for which it was advanced and for no other purpose. The society shall have power to recover the advance as prescribed if the member does not so utilise it.

20. Restrictions on transfer of share or interest. - (1) The transfer or charge of the share or interest of a member in the capital of a registered society, shall be subject to such conditions as to maximum holding as may by prescribed by this Act or by the rules.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this Act no transfer or charge of his share or interest by a member of a society with unlimited liability shall be valid unless

(a) he has held such share or interest for not less than one year ; and

(b) the transferee or mortgagee is either a member of such society or a person whose application for membership has been accepted.

21. Liability of past member and his estate. - (1) The liability of a past member and of the estate of a deceased member for the debts of a registered society as they existed at the date of his casting to be a member or on his death, as the ease may be, shall continue for a period of four years from the said date.

(2) No past member of a registered society with unlimited liability shall be eligible for membership of another such society with unlimited liability except with the special permission of the Registrar.

22. Share or interest not liable to attachment. - Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force but subject to the provision of Section 44 of this Act, the share or interest of a member in the capital of a registered society or in any fund under Section 53 shall not be liable to attachment or sale under any decree or order of a Court in respect of any debt or liability incurred by such member nor be subject to any claim by a receiver under the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920 (V of 1920).

23. Nomination of transferee. - If the bye-laws of a registered society so permit any member of the society may, in accordance therewith nominate a person or persons in whose favour he society shall dispose of the shares or interest of such member on his death.

24. Transfer of interest on death of a member. - When a member of a registered society dies, his shares and interest in the society shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be transferred-

(a) to the person if any nominated in accordance with the provisions of Section 23 ; or

(b) if there be no such nominee or if the nominee is not available or is difficult to be ascertained by the managing body, or if for any other cause such transfer cannot be made without unreasonable delay, difficulty to the person as may appear to the managing body to be the heir or legal representative of the deceased member ; provided that ninety days have elapsed from the date of the member's death. No new claim shall be entertained after the said period of ninety days.

25. Disposals of shares or interest of ceased members. - When a member of a registered society is expelled or withdrawn or otherwise ceases to be a member under this Act, rules, or bye-laws his share or interest shall be transferred to another eligible person, and the value thereon determined in accordance with the rules, shall be paid to such ceased member if his share or interest is not forfeited under the provisions of this Act, rules or bye-laws or if he is insane, to any person appointed to manage his properties under the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 (IV of 1912); provided that if there is no eligible transferee and if the bye-laws of the society so provide the value of his share or interest determined in accordance with the bye-laws shall be paid to him or, if he is insane, to any person appointed to manage his properties under the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912.

26. Liability of members on winding up of society. - The members of a registered society shall in the winding up of the society be jointly and severally liable to contribute towards any deficiency in the assets of the society-

(a) in the case of a society with unlimited liability-without limit; and

(b) in the case of a society with limited liability-subject to such limitation of amount as may be provided in the bye-laws.

27. Restriction on transfer of possession of land held under a society. - Notwithstanding anything in any law for the time being in force-

(1) a member of a registered society, the object of which is to develop Co-operative or Collective farming shall not be entitled to transfer his possession or interest in any land held by him under the society except to the society or with the previous approval of the managing body and in accordance with its bye-laws, to a member thereof or to a person who will be admitted as a member of the society ;

(2) on the death of the such a member, his possession of an interest in any such land held by him under the society shall come to his nominee in accordance with the provisions of Section 23 or in the first eligible heir according to seniority in age willing to become a member of the society;

(3) if no nominee or heir becomes a member, the possession of an interest in such land of the deceased, shall vest in the society, which shall pay to the nominee or the heir a sum equivalent to this value of the share and interest of the deceased member and any other sum due from the society as determined in accordance with this act or rules framed thereunder after deducting the dues which the deceased member owed to the society ;

(4) if there is no person qualified to succeed to the share or interest of the deceased member the society shall pay to his hire, executor or the legal representative, as the case may be a sum equivalent to the value of the share and interest of the deceased member as determined in accordance with the rules after deducting the dues of the deceased to the society;

(5) When in any other case a member ceases to be a member of such a society under this Act, rules or bye-laws his possession of and interest in any such land held by him under the society shall come to the society, if the bye-laws allow and if the share and interest of the member is not forfeited under this Act or rules framed thereunder, the society shall pay to the ceased member a sum equivalent to the value of the share and interest of such member and any other sum due to him from the society after deducting his debts to the society if any;

(6) no land held under a registered society specified in sub-section (1), by a member thereof, or vested under sub-section (2) in the heir or nominee of such member, shall be attachable in any suit or proceeding for the recovery of any debt other than a debt due to the society or to a member thereof;

(7) no land shall vest in such a society by reason of the provisions of this section unless it is owned by the society or has been leased to the society and, if the society holds the land by lease or contract the land shall vest in the society only during the pendency of the lease or contract.

28. Right of a registered society to pay prior debts of a mortgagor. - (1) Where a mortgage is executed in favour of a registered society for payment of prior debts or part thereof, of the mortgagor secured on the mortgaged property, the registered society may, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 83 and 84 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (IV of 1882), by notice in writing and served by registered post with acknowledgement due required any person to whom any such debt is due to receive payment of such debt or part thereof from the society at its registered office within such period as may be specified in the notice.

(2) The person on whom such notice is served shall be bound to receive payment of the amount offered by the society, but where there is disagreement or dispute between the mortgagor and such person as regards the amount of the debt, or where the society tenders less than the agreed amount of debt, the receipt of the sum offered by the society shall not debar such person from enforcing his right to recover the balance claimed by him.

(3) If any such person refuses to receive such notice or such payment, such debt or part thereof, as the case may be, shall cease to carry interest from the expiration of the period specified in the notice and the property mortgaged under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been freed from the encumbrance of such prior mortgage.

(4) No society shall advance a loan on a mortgage without taking a declaration from the prospective mortgagor as to the names of prior mortgages of the property in question if any.

29. Restriction on mortgaged property. - (1) Where land is mortgaged to a registered society, the mortgagor shall not be entitled without the approval of the society to transfer or mortgage his equity of redemption or to create a charge upon or lease out such property for a period exceeding three years.

(2) If the mortgaged property at any time is wholly or partly destroyed or the security is rendered insufficient due to fall in value or for any other reason and [lie mortgagor having been given a reasonable opportunity by the society of providing for further security sufficient to cover the loan or of repaying the loan with interest or such portion of the loan as may be determined by he supervisory managing or controlling body and the mortgagor having failed to provide such security or repay such portion of the loan, the whole of the loan or such uncovered portion shall be deemed to fall due at once and recoverable through a co-operative demand certificate.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (IV of 1882) the mortgaged property in case of default of payment of mortgage money or any part thereof, may be sold by the society as prescribed by rules in addition to any other remedy available to it, without the intervention of the Court, if a power of sale without the intervention of Court is expressly conferred by the mortgage deed ; provided that the society serves a notice in writing by registered post demanding payment of the mortgage money with interest, or part thereof, upon the mortgagor, or any person having an interest in or charge upon the mortgaged property or the equity of redemption who has previously notified the society of such interest or charge in writing or any surety and if default has been made in payment of the loan or part thereof for three months after such service of notice ; Provided that any party aggrieved by an action taken by a registered society under this section may prefer an appeal to the Registrar within thirty days from the date of the sale. His decision shall be final.

30. Bar to certain claim. - All payments and transfers made by a registered society under this Chapter, shall be valid and effectual against any demand made upon the society by any other person.

Chapter IV

Management

31. General Assembly. - (1) The General Assembly of a registered society shall consist of all those who are eligible to vote at general meeting of the society.

(2) (a) Every member of a registered society and every ex officio member in the Administrative Council or managing body of such society, unless under some temporary disqualification shall have the right to attend any general meeting of the society and to exercise his vote at such meeting ; Provided that the bye-laws of a registered society may prescribe-

(i) that a registered society affiliated to such society may have more than one representative entitled to vote at general meetings of the society; and

(ii) that only one-third of the members of the General Assembly, excluding ex officio member, may be individual members the other two-thirds being representatives of affiliated registered societies.

(b) (Omitted by Meghalaya Amendment Act of 2003).

(3) The supreme authority of a registered society shall be vested in the General Assembly ; Provided that during the pendency of any loan or service from the Government of Meghalaya or any other creditor secured at the instance of the Government of Meghalaya, the supreme authority in respect of any matter adversely affecting the interests of the Government of Meghalaya or the said creditor touching such loan or service shall be vested in the Government of Meghalaya or the Registrar as may be provided in the bye-laws, or any person authorised by them in writing and may extend to the appointment of officers to hold any of the offices of the society or any persons to be ex officio members of the Administrative Council, managing body or any committee of the society even if not members of the society. This supreme authority of the Government of Meghalaya or Registrar may also be exercised in the absence of any loan or service when the Government of Meghalaya or Registrar, as the case may be, deem their intervention to be necessary in the interests of the members of the society or of the co-operative movement in general. The Government of Meghalaya or the Registrar, as the case may be, may fix the salary of any such appointed officer and declare it to be a charge on the society. The) may cancel any such appointments by them.

(4) An annual or special meeting of the General Assembly shall be summoned and shall exercise its authority and perform its functions in such manner as may be prescribed in the bye-laws of the society.

32. Annual meeting of General Assembly. - (1) A general meeting to be termed the annual meeting of the General Assembly of registered society shall be held at least once in every co-operative year for the purpose of-

(a) electing members to the Administrative Council managing body and other committees of the society, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and other office bearers, as may be provided in the bye-laws and fixing such fees, salaries or other remuneration as prescribed in the bye-laws :

Provided that the Government of Meghalaya may prescribed by rules the qualifications necessary for the office bearers and the employees ;

(b) electing internal auditor or auditors, who shall not be members of the Administrative Council or governing body, and fixing the remuneration;

(c) considering the annual report of the Administrative Council or if there be no Administrative Council of the managing body, audit report and audited annual accounts and balance sheets and reviewing the working of the society during the preceding co-operative year;

(d) deciding how profits are to be distributed in accordance with the bye-laws ;

(e) passing the annual budget and approving the programme of work for the ensuing year ;

(f) fixing the maximum amount of liability to be incurred during the ensuing year and the maximum rate of interest payable on deposits ; and

(g) considering such other business as may be placed before the meeting in accordance with the bye-laws.

(2) Such meeting shall be held not later than nine months after the close of the Co-operatives year".

(3) when society fails to convene the annual general meeting within the period specified in sub-section (2) the Registrar or the person authorised by him in this behalf shall be competent to convene such annual general meeting within a period or ninety days from the date of expiry of the period mentioned in that sub-section.

(4) Members elected to the Administrative Council/Managing Body of the Societies under provision sub-section 1(a) shall continue to head office as such for a period not exceeding three year from the date of election. The elected members shall be eligible for re-election for another term not exceeding three years. No member of a Managing Administrative Council or other committee so elected in the Annual General Meeting shall be eligible for election as the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Society if such a member is a Minister in the Central and State Government :

Provided that no person shall be eligible to hold, at the same time, Office of the Chairman Vice-Chairman of the Managing Body or Administrative Council or Board of more than two societies.

33. Special meeting of General Assembly. - (1) A special meeting of the General Assembly shall be called-

(a) at the instance of the Administrative Council or if there be no Administrative Council of the managing body ;

(b) on a requisition signed by one-tenth of the members of the Central Assembly or twenty members, whichever is less ; or

(2) The Registrar himself or any person authorised by him in this behalf in writing may, by special order, call a special meeting of the General Assembly at any time and shall call such a meeting upon the failure of the society to call a meeting on the requisition by the members or at the instance of the Registrar under sub-section (1).

(3) Notwithstanding any rule or bye-law prescribing the method of summoning or period of notice for a General Assembly the Registrar or any person authorised by him in this behalf may specify the time place, business for the meeting and manner of convening it.

34. Administrative Council. - The management of every registered society shall vest in the managing body of the society except in the case of a society which for administrative convenience necessitated by reasons such as wide area of operation that responsibility shall vest in an Administrative Council. The Administrative Council, the managing body and committees of a society shall be constituted in accordance with the bye-laws of the society which shall specify the composition of such bodies their powers functions, duties method of summoning meetings and procedure.

35. Power to depute Government servant to manage the affairs of a society. - The Government of Meghalaya may, on the application of a registered society and on such conditions as may be determined, depute Government officials to the service of the society for the purpose of managing its affairs and the officials shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be determined.

36. Dissolution or reconstruction of the Administrative Council, managing body or any committee of a society. - (1) When the Registrar is satisfied after an inspection or inquiry under Section 60 or 61 for reasons to be recorded in writing that the Administrative Council managing body or any committee of a registered society is not functioning property or according to this Act, rules or bye-laws, he may after giving the offending body an opportunity to state its case, direct under Clause (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 33, that a special general meeting of the General Assembly be called within a time to be specified to dissolve the Administrative Council managing body or committee concerned and to elect a new one ; Provided that if in the opinion of the Registrar, it is necessary as an emergent measure to suspend the offending body forthwith he may do so and shall appoint a person or persons on such conditions as prescribed by him to be in full control of the suspended body until a new body has been elected or action has been taken in accordance with Section 37.

(2) The Registrar may, for reasons to be recorded, specify in the direction made under sub-section (1) that all or any of the outgoing members of the dissolved body shall be disqualified for such period not exceeding three years as he may determine for election or appointment as an office of the society or for service on any of its bodies.

(3) An appeal shall lie to the Government of Meghalaya against an order of the Registrar disqualifying a member of a society for election or appointment within two months from the receipt of the order.

37. Dissolution of Administrative Council, managing body or any committee and appointment of persons to manage the affairs of a society. - If the Administrative Council, managing body or any committee, as the case may be, of a society is not dissolved and reconstituted within the time specified by the Registrar under Section 36, he may, by order in writing dissolve such body and shall thereupon appoint a person or persons, on such conditions as prescribed by him, to manage the affairs of the society for such period not exceeding one year where the shall arrange for the constitution of a new body to take the place of the dissolved body. The Registrar may extend this period from time to time as he may deem fit; provided that the aggregate of such periods, shall not exceed three years.

38. Tenure of office of the person appointed under Section 37. - The person appointed under Section 37 shall hold office until the Administrative Council, managing body or the committee, as the case may be as reconstituted or his appointment is cancelled by the Registrar.

39. Powers of person appointed under Section 37. - During the tenure of office of a person appointed under Section 37 such person shall, subject to the control of the Registrar exercise all the powers and perform all the functions and duties which may be exercised or performed by the superseded body under the provisions of this Act, rules or bye-laws.

Chapter V

Duties of Registered Society

40. Address of society. - Every registered society shall have a registered address, to which all notices and communications may be sent and shall send notice in writing of every change, thereof, within thirty days of such change, to the Registrar and to the affiliating society, if any.

41. Prescription and inspection of documents. - (1) Every registered society shall keep and allow inspection free of charge by any member of the society and such other persons as may be prescribed at all reasonable times at the office or the society-

(a) a copy of this Act;

(b) a copy of the rules framed under this Act;

(d) a copy of all rules framed under the bye-laws of the society ;

(e) annual balance-sheet authenticated by the Audit Officer, and

(f) such other books, forms, registers or other documents as may be prescribed by the Registrar.

(2) A society shall deliver to every member on payment of a sum prescribed by the society's bye-laws or rules, copies of documents certified to be true copies.

42. Restriction on borrowing. - A registered society may receive deposits and may borrow from its members and from persons who are not members to such extent and on such conditions as may be prescribed in the Act and bye-laws.

43. Power of Government to give financial assistance. - Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, the Government of Meghalaya may grant loans to, take shares in guarantee the principal or the interest or goth in respect of debentures issued by, or give financial assistance in any other form to any registered society, which puts forward a satisfactory scheme for the utilisation of the funds so raised.

The Government of Meghalaya may recover recall from any society out of its net profit in any year all or any part of such financial assistance in extent of mis-utilisation.

44. Restriction on loans. - (1) A registered society shall not give loans-

(a) to any person other than a member except with the general or special sanction of the Registrar ; provided that a loan may be given to a depositor of the society out of the security of his deposit; or

(b) to a member in excess either of the maximum or of the normal credit determined by the society for that member in accordance with its bye-laws ; provided that in assessing normal credit the managing body shall take a full statement as to the member's means of earning;

(c) on the security of movable property or future movable property, unless the movable property is pledged with the society ;

(d) on personal security without sureties, unless the borrowing member has unencumbered immovable property or attachable funded assets sufficient to cover the loan and a full statement of such securities is submitted by the borrower and the truth of the statement is ascertained by the managing body;

(e) on personal security with sureties unless the borrowing member and his sureties together have unencumbered immovable property or attachable funded assets sufficient to cover the loan and a full statement of such securities is submitted by the borrower and the sureties separately and the truth of the statement is ascertained by the managing body;

(f) on personal security with or without sureties unless the loan is for a short period and not exceeding the time required to reap the benefit of the loan and in no case exceeding three years.

(2) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-clauses (1)(b) and (e) a loan may be given on personal security ; provided that the managing body of the society is satisfied as to the credit of the borrower and has taken from him a scheme for the utilisation of the loan and has ascertained the truth of the statements contained in the scheme and the bona fides of the borrowing member.

(b) The resolution of the managing body granting a loan under this section contain the names of all assenting members ; provided that, if such names are omitted from the proceedings of the meeting the Chairman and Secretary shall be held jointly and severally responsible for the issue of the loan.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-clauses (1)(b) to (f) and (2)(a) and (b), a registered society may issue a loan on mortgage or valuable security.

(d) No person shall be accepted as a surety for any borrower unless he is also a member of the same registered society.

(3) A registered society the primary object of which is the issue of loans, shall open a separate accounting or finance or banking branch in accordance with its bye-laws and frame rules for the conduct of business in such branch before it issues any loans and such rules shall first be approved by the Registrar.

45. Office bearer of a society is required to furnish information and produce documents. - (1) Every office bearer of a registered society shall produce documents and books of account, cash balance in his custody, and appear before and furnish such information in regard to the transactions or working of the society as may be required of him by the Registrar, or persons authorised by the Registrar in this behalf, and audit officer, arbitrator, liquidator or any persons conducting an inspection or inquiry under the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.

"Provided that in case of the office bearer failing to produce documents, books of account, cash balance in his custody and other information required by the Registrar or the persons authorised by him deliberately, the Registrar or persons authorised by him and audit officer, liquidator or any person conducting inspection or enquiry may apply to any Magistrate within whose jurisdiction the society functions for securing the records and property of the society."

(2)(a) At any sale of property, movable or immovable held under this Act or rules framed thereunder, no office bearer of the registered society concerned, or am person having any duty to perform in connection with such sale shall either directly or indirectly bid for, acquire or attempt to acquire, any interest in such property.

(b) Any office bearer of a society or a liquidator may, on behalf of the society, bid and purchase at a sale of mortgaged property.

Chapter VI

Privileges of Registered Society

46. Prior claims of a society. - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Sections 60 and 61 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908), any debt or outstanding demand due to a registered society by any member, surety, past member, or the estate of any deceased member shall be a first charge-

(a) if such debt or demand is due in respect of the supply, or any loan to provide the means of such supply of seed, manure, labour, fooder for cattle or any other thing incidental to the conduct of agricultural operations - upon the crops or agricultural produce of such member, past member, or belonging to the estate of such deceased member, at any time within two years from the date of such supply or loan or from the date on which the last instalment of such supply or loan became repayable ;

(b) if such debt or demand is due in respect of the supply of, or any loan for the purchase of cattle agricultural implements or warehouses for the storage of agricultural produce-in the manner and to the extent aforesaid upon the crops or agricultural produce of the such member, past member or belonging to the estate of such deceased member and also upon the cattle agricultural implements or warehouse thus supplied or purchased wholly or in part from any such loan ;

(c) if such debt or demand is due in respect of the supply of, or any loan for the purchase of raw materials industrial implements, machinery workshop, warehouses or. business premises-upon the raw materials or other things supplied or purchased by such member, past member or the deceased member wholly or in part from any such loan and also upon any articles manufactured from a raw materials or with implements or machinery so supplied or purchased wholly or in part from any such loan ;

(d) if such debt or demand is due in respect of any loan for the purchase, improvement or redemption of land or for the purchase or construction of any house, building or any portion thereof-upon the land purchased, improved or redeemed or the house or building so purchased or constructed by such member past member or the deceased member from any such loan.

(2) Nothing in this section shall affect the claims of any bona fide, purchaser or transferee for value without notice.

47. Charge and set off in respect of shares or interest of members. - A registered society shall have a charge upon the share or interest in the capital and on the deposits of a member or past member or deceased member, and upon any dividend, bonus or surplus payable to a member or past member or the estate of deceased member in respect of any debt due from such member or past member or estate of such deceased member to the society and may set off any sum credited or payable to a member or past member or estate of a deceased member in or towards payment of any such debt.

48. Deduction of dues from salary of members. - If a member of a registered society, who is an employee of the Government of Meghalaya or any local authority, takes a loan from a society and contracts to repay it by instalments, and authorise the society to recover such instalments by deduction from his salary, the person who disburses any amount payable to such member as salary or remuneration in respect of such employment shall on demand from the society deduct the amount of such instalment from the amount disbursed to such member as salary and shall forthwith remit to the society the amount so deducted.

"If the employer or the person authorised in this behalf to disburse salary to the member who has taken loan from the society fails to make deduction as per the contract or defaults in making payment to the Co-operative Society, he shall be liable to the society to the extent of the amount which the employer has failed to deduct or to pay as the case, may be."

49. Exemption from compulsory registration and personal attendance for registration of instruments. - Nothing in Clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the Indian Registration Act, 1908 (XVI of 1908), shall apply to-

(1) any instrument relating to shares in a registered society, notwithstanding that assets of such society consist in whole or in part of immovable property : or

(2) any debenture issued by any such society and not creating declaring assigning limiting or extinguishing any right, title or interest to or in immovable property, except in so far as it entitles the holder to the security afforded by a registered instrument whereby the society has mortgaged, conveyed or otherwise transferred the whole or part of its immovable property of any interest therein to trustees upon trust for the benefit of the holder of such debentures ; or

(3) any endorsement upon or transfer of any debenture issued by any such society; or

(4) notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Registration Act, 1908 it shall not be necessary for any office bearer of a registered society or a liquidator of a society to appear in person or by agent at any registration office in any proceeding connected with the registration of any instrument executed by him in his official capacity or to sing as provided in Section 58 of that Act; or

(5) where any instrument is so executed, the registering office to whom such instrument is presented for registration may, if he thinks fit, refer to such office bearer or liquidator for information regarding, the same and on being satisfied of the execution thereof, shall register the instrument.

50. Power to remit certain dues, fees, etc. - (1) The Government of Meghalaya may, by general or special order in the case of a registered society or class of registered societies, remit any tax, cess or fee payable under any law for the time being in force or the rules thereunder in respect of which they are competent to remit such tax, cess or fee.

(2) The Government of Meghalaya may, in respect of any registered society or class of registered societies by notification in the Official Gazette, remit-

(a) the stamp duty other than stamp duties falling within item 91 or item 96 in list I in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India in respect of any instrument executed by, or on behalf of, or in favour of a registered society or by an office or on behalf of a member thereof, and relating to the business of such society or any class of such instruments co-operative demand certificates or decisions awards or orders of Registrar or arbitrators under this Act, in cases where but for such remission, he registered society, officer or member thereof, as the case may be, would be liable to pay the stamp duty chargeable under any law for the time being in force, in respect of such instrument, and

(b) any fee payable by a registered society under any law for the time being in force for the registration of documents or of Court fee for the time being in force.

Chapter VII

Property and Funds of Registered Society

51. Investment of Funds. - (1) A registered society may invest or deposit its funds-

(a) in a Government Savings Bank, or

(b) in any of the securities specified in Section 20 of the Indian Trust Act, 1882 other than those specified in Clause (e) of that section, or

(c) with the sanction of the Registrar, in the shares or debentures or in the security of any other registered society, or

(d) with any registered society bank or persons carrying on the business of banking approved for this purpose by the Registrar, or

(e) in any other mode permitted by the bye-laws.

(2) Such investment shall be accounted for separately from the Reserve Fund of the registered society.

52. Reserve Fund. - (1) Every registered society shall maintain a Reserve Fund formed for its profits and carry to the fund in each year not less than twenty five per centum of its net profits.

(2) The Reserve Fund shall be invested separately in any of the ways prescribed in Section 51 or, with the sanction of the Registrar, in immovable property required for the furtherance of the activities of the society. Any such investment shall be deemed to constitute Reserve Fund. No instrument securing a loan on a Reserve Fund shall be valid.

(3) The Reserve Fund shall not be utilised for any purpose whatsoever except with the sanction of the Registrar, who shall accord such sanction only in exceptional circumstances.

53. Distribution of net profit. - After making the allocation to the reserve Fund as prescribed in Section 52, the remaining net profits of a registered society with limited liability may be distributed according to the rules, and bye-laws of the society.

54. Restriction on distribution profit. - (1) Save as may be prescribed, no distribution of profit shall be made in the case of a registered society with unlimited liability and no part of the net profit or of a fund of any society shall be divided by way of dividend, bonus patronage dividend, rebate or otherwise among its members.

(2) No dividend bonus, patronage dividend, or rebate shall be paid-

(a) otherwise than out of net profits certified by the audit officer or have been actually realised ; provided that the advance patronage dividend may be paid in accordance with the directions of the Registrar and on the certificate of an internal auditor approved by the Registrar; or

(b) without the previous sanction of the Registrar, if the audit officer reports that any asset is bad or doubtful and also recommends that such sanction is necessary.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section payments may be made to members as a fixed interest on share capital if so provided in the bye-laws.

Chapter VIII

Audit

55. Registrar is responsible for audit. - (1) The Registrar shall audit or cause to be audited by some person authorised by him by general or special order in writing in this behalf, the accounts of every registered society once at least in every year.

(1-A) The Registrar may, keeping in view the annual business turn over of the Societies authorise or appoint chattered, Accountant by special order in writing in this behalf to audit the accounts of any society or class of societies.

(2) The Registrar or the person authorised by him in this behalf shall at all reasonable times have free access to the books, accounts, documents, securities cash and other properties belonging to or in the custody of the society and may summon any person in possession or responsible for the custody of any such books, accounts, documents, securities, cash or other properties to produce the same and furnish such information in regard to the transactions and working of the society at any convenient place or at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof by the same means and so far as may be, in the same manner as provided in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908).

(3) In respect of every audit of the accounts, a registered society shall pay such audit fee as may be prescribed and such fee shall be deemed to be outstanding dues from the society.

(4) If it appears to the Registrar or on application by a society or otherwise that it is necessary or expedient to re-audit any accounts of the society, the Registrar may by order provide for such re-audit and the provisions of this Act applicable to audit of accounts of the society shall apply to such re-audit.

56. Power of the Registrar to have the accounts written up. - If at the time of the audit the account of a registered society are not complete, the Registrar or with hi^ sanction the audit officer, may cause the accounts to be written up at the expense of the society.

57. Nature of audit. - The audit shall include ;

(i) a verification of the cash balance and security ;

(ii) a verification of the balance at the credit of the depositors and creditors and the amounts due from the debtors of the society ;

(iii) an examination of overdue debts, if any ;

(iv) the valuation of the assets including stock verifications, and liabilities of the society;

(v) an examination of the statement of accounts and balance-sheets to be prepared by the managing body of the society in such forms as may be prescribed ;

(vi) an examination of the realised profits; and

(vii) an examination utilisation of Government Financial assistance.

58. Audit report. - The audit officer, shall within a week from the date of completion of audit, submit to the registered society, and to the Registrar, together with the statement of accounts audited, and audit report including a statement of-

(i) every transaction which appears to him to be contrary to law or to the rules or bye-laws ;

(ii) every sum which ought to have been but has not been brought into account;

(iii) the amount of deficiency or loss which appears to have resulted from any negligence or misconduct or to require further investigation ;

(iv) any money or property belonging to the society which appears to have been misappropriated or fraudulently retained by any person ;

(v) any of the assets which appears to him to be bad or doubtful;

(vi) any irregularity in maintaining account; and

(vii) any other relevant matter.

59. Rectification of defects. - A registered society shall be afforded by the Registrar or the person authorised by him an opportunity of explaining any defects or irregularities pointed out and objected to by the audit officer and thereafter the society shall within 3 months time and in the manner as the Registrar or the authorised person may direct, remedy such defects or irregularities and report to the Registrar or the authorised person the actin taken by it thereon.

Chapter IX

Inquiry and Inspection

60. Inquiry by Registrar. - (1) The Registrar may, at any time, of his own motion or shall at the request of the administrative head in charge of the Civil Sub-division or other administrative area, hold an inquiry or direct some person authorised by him by order in writing in this behalf, to hold an enquiry into the constitution working and financial condition of a registered society.

(2) Such an inquiry shall also be held on the application of-

(i) the affiliating society, if any, of which the society is a member and debtor;

(ii) a majority of the members of the managing body ;

(iii) one-third of the members of the society, who shall have deposited such security for costs, if any, as the Registrar may direct ;

(iv) creditors representing not less than one-half of the borrowed capital of the society, who shall have deposited such security for costs, if any as the Registrar may direct.

(3) The Registrar shall communicate the result of any inquiry under this section to the society and to the person at whose request such enquiry was made.

61. Inspection of society. - (1) Every registered society shall be liable to inspection at any time by the Registrar or any person authorised by him in this behalf by general or special order ; and by any affiliating society, if so provided in its bye-laws.

(2) An inspection of a registered society shall be made by the Registrar or any person authorised by him in this behalf by an order in writing at any time on the application of a creditor of a registered society :

Provided that no inspection shall be made under this sub-section unless (i) the creditor deposits with the Registrar such sum as security for the cost of the proposed inspection as the Registrar may require, and (ii) the creditor satisfies the Registrar that the alleged debt is a sum then due and that he has demanded payment thereof and has not received satisfaction within a reasonable time ;

Provided further that no inspection shall be conducted under this sub-section without giving the society an opportunity of being heard.

(3) The result of an inspection under this section shall be communicated to the society and if held at the instance of a creditor, to the creditor.

62. Cost of inquiry and inspection. - (1) When an inquiry is held under Section 60(2) or an inspection is made under Section 61(2), the registrar may after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, apportion the cost or such part of the cost as he may deem fit, between the society, the members thereof or the affiliating society or the creditor or creditors applying for such inspection or inquiry, as the case may be, and the officers, former officers, members and past members of the society.

(2) No expenditure from the fund of a registered society shall be incurred for the purpose of defraying any cost cost in support of any appeal preferred by any person other than the society itself against an order under sub-section (1).

(3) Any person authorised by the Registrar under Sections 60 and 61 shall have all the powers of the Registrar when acting under these sections.

(4) Recovery of costs. - Any sum awarded by way of cost under this section shall be recoverable through a Co-operative Demand Certificate.

Chapter X

Settlement of Disputes

63. Reference of dispute. - (1) Any dispute touching the business of a registered society other than a dispute regarding disciplinary actin taken by a Society against an employee of the society shall be referred to the Registrar for decision if the parties thereto are among the following :-

(a) the society, its past or present controlling or managing body, any past or present officer, agent or employee or the liquidator of the Society ; or

(b) member, past member or persons claiming through a member, past member or deceased member of Society ; or

(d) any of registered society including any financing bank having transaction with it, a Co-operative Society or liquidator of such society;

(2) Any dispute mentioned in sub-section (1) other than a dispute relating to recovery of money shall be referred to the Registrar within two months from the date on which cause of action arises.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section or any other law for the time being in force, the Registrar may admit any dispute after expiry of the period mentioned in the sub- section (2) if the applicant satisfies the Registrar that he had sufficient reasons for no referring the dispute within such period of limitation, and the dispute so admitted shall not be barred by limitation.

64. Settlement of dispute. - (1) The Registrar shall, on receipt of a reference under sub-section (1) of Section 63, decide the dispute himself or authorise any other Government officer to decide such dispute.

(2) Where the Registrar is satisfied that a party to any reference made to him under Section 63 with intent to defeat or delay the execution of any decision that may be passed thereof-

(a) is about to dispose of the while or any part of his property ; or

(b) is about to remove the whole or any part of his property from the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Registrar, the Registrar may, unless adequate security is furnished, direct the unconditional attachment of the said property or such part thereof as he deems necessary, and such attachment shall have the same effect as if it has been by a competent civil Court.

(3) In case of a dispute relating to recovery of loan, the Registrar shall refer the dispute to the Tribunal constituted by the State Government by a notification published in the official Gazette.

(4) The parties to the dispute shall include a registered society including financing bank, its past or present controlling body or the liquidator of the society.

(5) The Government may constitute as many tribunals as may be necessary for such area or areas and specify its composition in the notification.

(6) The Tribunal shall consist of the three members including President.

(7) A member, director or chairman of a Cooperative Society including financing bank may file an application before the tribunal through the Registrar or his authorised representative for necessary decision or order for the recovery of any amount of loan dues from a member past member or surety of a member and past member of a registered society.

(8) The order passed by the Tribunal shall have the same force and effect as that of the decree of a civil Court and a copy of such order, shall be served on the person against whom it is made in the manner laid down for the service of summons in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

(9) Every order passed by the Tribunal shall be executed in the same manner as decree of a civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

(10) Any person aggrieved by an order passed by the Tribunal may file an appeal against such order to the State Government within 60 days alter the date of service of the order.

Chapter XI

Dissolution of Society

65. Cancellation of registration. - (1) If the Registrar on receipt of an application made upon a resolution adopted in a meeting of the General Assembly by a three-fourth majority of the members present at the meeting provided that the notice of dissolution was included in the circulated agenda of the meeting, is of opinion that he society ought to be dissolve,d he may, by an order in writing cancel the registration of the society.

(2) The Registrar after an enquiry has been held under Section 60 or after an inspection has been made under Section 61, may cancel the registration of a society which-

(i) has not commenced working ; or

(ii) has ceased working ; or

(iii) has ceased to comply materially with any condition as to registration in this Act, rules or bye-laws ; and

(iv) in his opinion ought to be dissolved.

(3) A copy of the order cancelling the registration of a society shall forthwith be published in the official Gazette by a notice which shall be commenced to the society and to any affiliating society concerned by registered post. The notice shall contain the name of the liquidator appointed under Section 66, who shall take full charge of the society forthwith and shall require all claims against the said society to be made to the liquidator within two months of the publication of the notice. All liabilities recorded in the account books of the society shall be deemed ipso facto to have been so claimed.

(4) When the cancellation of the registration of a society takes effect, the society shall cease to exist as a corporate body, but shall vest in the liquidator.

(5) Any member of the society may within two months, from the date of publication of the order of cancellation appeal to the Government of Meghalaya from such order.

(6) Where no appeal is presented within two months from the publication of an order cancelling the registration of the society, the order shall take effect on the expiry of that period.

(7) When an appeal is presented within two months of an order of cancellation, the order shall not take effect until it is confirmed by the State Government and such confirmation is communicated to the society by registered post.

66. Winding up. - (1) Where an order of cancellation of the registration of a society is made by the Registrar under Section 65, he may appoint any person to be the liquidator of the society and may remove such person and appoint another in his place.

(2) The liquidator appointed under sub-section (1) shall have power from the date of this appointment to take immediate possession of all assets properties effects and actionable claims of the society or to which the society is entitled and of all books, records, cash and other documents pertaining to the business of the society and, in the interest of he society shall hold charge of the society notwithstanding the provisions of Section 65 ; provided that no step shall be taken for the winding up of the society during the pendency of any stay order.

(3) The liquidator shall, under the general control of the Registrar have power, so far as is necessary for the winding up of the society, on behalf of the society to carry on the business thereof and to do all acts and execute all documents necessary to such winding up, and in particular shall exercise the following powers :

(a) to institute, compromise and defend suits and other legal proceedings on behalf of the society by his name of office,

(b) to make any compromise or arrangement with any person between whom and he society there exists any dispute ;

(c) to determine the debts due to the society by a member, past member of the estate, nominees heirs or legal representatives of a deceased member;

(d) to determine from time to time the contribution to be made or remaining to be made by the members, past members or by the estates or nominees, heirs or legal representatives of deceased members or by any officers or former officers, to the assets of the society and to determine the debts due from such members or persons and the cost of liquidation ;

(e) to calculate the cost of liquidation and to determine by what persons and in what proportion they are to be borne ;

(f) to investigate all claims against the society and, subject to the provisions of this Act, to decide questions of priority arising between claimants ;

(g) to pay claims against the society including interest up to the date of cancellation of registration according to their respective priorities if any, in full or rateably as the assets including the reserve fund of the society, permit ; the surplus, if any remaining after payment of claims being applied in payment of interest from the date of such cancellation of the rate fixed by him but not exceeding the contract rate in any case ;

(h) to take step to recover dues according to the provisions of Section 83, if necessary ; and

(i) to dispose of the surplus if any remaining after paying the claims against the society in accordance with Section 67 of this Act.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder a liquidator appointed under this section shall, in so far as such powers are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this section, have powers to summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses and to compel the production of any books, accounts, documents, securities cash or other properties belonging to or in the custody of the society by the same means and so far as may be in the same manner as is provided in the case of a civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908).

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, if any landed property is held by a liquidator as such the title over the land shall be complete as soon as the mutation of the name of his office is effaced and no Court shall question the title on the ground of dispossession, want of possession or physical delivery of possession.

67. Distribution of fund of a dissolved. - On dissolution of a society the reserved fund and any undisbursed cash in hand shall be applied to discharging liabilities of the society and the share capital. Any sum that may remain thereafter may be transferred to Co-operative Development Fund for utilisation in the manner as prescribed in the Co-operative Development Fund Rules.

68. Liquidator to deposit the books and submit a final Report. - When the affairs of a registered society had been wound-up, the liquidator shall make report to the Registrar within three years from the date of cancellation registration, who when satisfied, shall order the liquidation proceeding to be closed. In those cases where the required report cannot be submitted by liquidator within the specified period due to compelling reasons such as non-availability of records or members are not traceable or no transaction has taken place in the society, the Registrar shall on his own summarily order the closure of the liquidation proceedings of the society.

69. Bar of suit. - Save in so far as is expressly provided in this Act, no civil Court shall take cognisance of any matter connected with the winding up or dissolution of a society under this at and when liquidator has been appointed no suit or other legal proceedings shall lie or be proceeded with against him except by leave of the Registrar and subject to such terms as he may impose.

69A. Insured Co-operative Banks. - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, Order for winding up, construction, suppression of Committee, not to be made without consultation or requisition of Reserve Bank of India in the case of insured Co-operative Bank.

(2) An order for the winding up or an order sanctioning a scheme of compromise or arrangement or of amalgamation, or reconstruction (including division or amalgamation) of the bank may be made only with the previous sanction in writing of the Reserve Bank of India.

(3) On order for the winding up of the bank shall be made by the Registrar if so required by the Reserve Bank of India in the circumstances referred in Section 13-D of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961.

(4) If so required by the Reserve Bank of India in the public interest or for preventing the affairs of the bank being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors or for securing the proper management of the bank, an order shall be made by the Registrar in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India for the suppression (removal) of the Committee Board and the appointment of an Executive Officer therefor, for such period or periods not exceeding three years in the aggregate as may from time to time be specified by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies after consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, and the Executive Officer so appointed shall, after the expiry of his term of office, continue in office until the day immediately preceding the date of the first meeting of the new Committee.

(5) An order for the winding up of the bank or an order sanctioning a scheme of compromise or arrangement or of amalgamation or reconstruction (including division or amalgamation) or an order for the suppression (removal) of the Committee/Board and the appointment of an Executive Officer therefore made with the consent in writing or on the requisition of the Reserve Bank of India shall not be liable to be called in question in any manner.

(6) The liquidator or the Insured Co-operative Bank or the transferee bank, as the case may be, shall be under an obligation to repay the Deposit insurance Corporation established under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, in the circumstances to the extent and in the manner referred to in Section 21 of that Act.

Explanation. - (i) Fore the purpose of this section "a Co-operative Bank" means a Bank as has been defined in the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961.

(ii) "transferee Bank" in relation to an insured Co-operative Bank which is an insured Bank under the provisions of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961.

(iii) transferee Bank" in relation to an insured Co-operative Bank means a Cooperative Bank-

(a) with which such insured Co-operative Bank is amalgamated ; or

(b) to which the assets and liabilities or such insured Co-operative Bank are transferred, or

Chapter XII

70. Powers of Registrar to direct payment. - Notwithstanding anything contained in chapter X the Registrar may on his own notion or on the written requisition of a registered society or an affiliating society or a financing bank for the recovery of any of due loan or any other demand due from defaulting member, after making such enquiry as he deems fit grant a Co-operative Demand Certificate for the recovery of the amount found to be due.

71. Charge and Surcharge. - (1) Where as the result of an audit under Section 55, or an enquiry under Section 60,or an inspection under Section 61, or a report made in the course of the winding up of a registered society, it appears to the Registrar that any member, officer or employee past or present, of the society has at any time within a period of four years prior to the date of such audit, inspection, inquiry or report, as the case may be-

(a) intentionally whether individually or as an assenting member of any managing or other controlling body made or authorised any payment or granted any loan which is contrary to the provisions of this Act or to the rules or bye-laws or failed to take timely steps to recover any loan at the due date or if it was being improperly utilised ; or

(b) was grossly negligent in respect of any loss or deficiency ; or

(d) misappropriated or fraudulently retained any property of the society; or

(e) committed breach of trust in relation to the society ; the Registrar may inquire into the conduct of such officer or members of the managing or other controlling body.

(2) The Registrar may similarly inquire into the conduct relating toe the affairs of the society of any member, officer or employee past or present of a registered society on the application of the present controlling or managing body of the society, or liquidator, or any creditor, or any other registered society to which the society is affiliated or any contributory.

(3) Upon such enquiry after giving such member, officer or employee an opportunity of being heard and, in the case of payment made contrary to the provisions of this Act or rule or bye laws, after affording such member, officer or employee, time to recover the amount of such payment from the payee and credit it to the funds of the society, the Registrar may by an order in writing require such member, officer or employee to pay such sum with interest at such rate as the Registrar may direct, to the society by way of compensation in respect of such payment or loss or to restore such property as the Registrar thinks fit, and to pay such sum as the Registrar may fix to meet the cost of the proceedings under this section.

(4) Any award made by the Registrar under sub-section (3) shall be reduced to the form of a co-operative demand certificate by the officer authorised to issue such certificates.

(5) This section shall apply notwithstanding that such member, officer or employee may by his act or omission have incurred in addition to criminal liability under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.

(6) An appeal shall lie to the Government of Meghalaya against an order passed under sub-clause (1)(a) within thirty days of the communication of the order.

Chapter XIII

Penalty

72. Prohibition of the use of the word "Co-operative" or "Samabaya". - (1) No person other than a society registered under this Act or any other Co-operative Societies Act shall trade or carry on business under any name or title of which the word "Co-operative" is a part:

Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to the use by any person or by his successors in interest of any name or title under which he lawfully traded or carried on business at the commencement of this Act.

(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, and in the case of a continuing offence with further fine of fifty rupees for each day on which the offence is continued after conviction thereafter.

73. Punishment for false return false information disobeying summons, orders, etc. - If a registered society or an officer or member thereof or any liquidator,-

(a) wilfully makes a false return or furnishes false information or wilfully neglects or refuses to dos any act required by this Act or any rules or bye-laws ; or does anything contrary to this Act or the rules of bye-laws ; or

(b) any person wilfully or without reasonable excuse disobeys any summons requisition or lawfully written order issued under the provisions of this Act or does not produce documents or cash balance of the society or furnish any information lawfully required from him by a person authorised in this behalf under the provisions of this Act or fails to maintain up-to-date account, records and other documents of the society required to be maintained by him under this Act or rules or bye-laws;

he shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than two hundred rupees and which may extend to ten thousand rupees.

74. Punishment for disposing property in contravention of Section 46. - Any member, past member or the nominee, heir or legal representative of a deceased member removing or otherwise disposing of, or sufficient to be removed or otherwise disposed of, any property on which a registered society holds a first charge under Section 46 with intent to defraud the society or with such intent doing any other act to the prejudice of the society's first charge, shall be punishable with fine not exceeding five thousand rupees.

75. Penalty for certain misdemeanours. - Where it appears to the Registrar that any person has contravened the provisions of this Act, the rules or bye-laws-

(a) by sitting or voting or exercising his rights as a member, or as a member of any managing or controlling body, or voting in the affairs of a registered, society as a representative of another society which is a member of such society, when such person was not entitled so to sit, vote or exercise, such rights as the case may be, or

(b) by utilising a loan for a purpose different from that for which it was granted.

the Registrar may, after affording such person an opportunity to be heard by an order in writing, direct him to pay from the assets of the society by way of penalty such sum not exceeding five hundreds rupees as the Registrar thinks fit.

76. Power to enforce performance of obligations. - Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, where any registered society is required to take any action under this Act, the rules or bye-laws and such action is not taken within the time provided in this Act, the rules or bye-laws or within such time, as the Registrar may specify by a notice in writing where no time is so provided, the Registrar may call upon any officer of the society whom he considers to be responsible for the carrying out the directions and after giving such officer an opportunity to be heard, may require him to pay to the assets of the society such sum not exceeding twenty-five rupees as the Registrar may think fit for each day until the Registrar's directions are carried out.

77. Cognisance of offences. - (1) No Court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the second class shall try any offence under this Act.

(2) No prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be inserted without the previous sanction of the Registrar.

(3) Offences under this Act may be tried summarily.

Chapter XIV

Jurisdiction

78. Indemnity. - No suit, proceeding or prosecution whatever shall lie against the Registrar or any person acting on his authority, or against any liquidator in respect of anything done or purporting to be done in good faith under this Act.

79. Bar to jurisdiction of Courts. - (1) Save as provided in this Act, no Civil or Revenue Court shall have any jurisdiction in respect of-

(a) registration of a registered society or its bye-laws or amendments of bye-laws; or

(b) the dissolution of a managing or controlling body and the management of the affairs of the society on dissolution thereof; or

(d) any matter in relation to the winding up and dissolution of a registered society.

(2) Save as provided in this Act, no order, decision or award under this Act, or working of the affairs of a registered society shall be liable to be challenged, set aside modified, revised or declared void in any Court on any ground whatsoever except on grounds of jurisdiction.

80. Appeal or review. - (1) Except where otherwise expressly provided to the contrary an appeal shall lie to the Registrar from the decision made under this act or rules framed thereunder by any Government Officer, liquidator or non-official helper appointed under sub-section (3) of Section 3.

(2) The Registrar may review any order passed by him at any time within two months from the communication of such order.

(3) Save as provided in this Act or rules, no appeal shall lie to the Government of Meghalaya against any order of the Registrar, except on a question of law, and provided such appeal is preferred within two months of the communication of such order.

(4) Any Appellate Authority and the Registrar in case of review may pass any stay order pending any appeal or review before such an authority, and may award cost against any party appealing or petitioning for review if such appeal or review petition is considered false, vexatious of frivolous by the authority concerned.

81. Power of attachment of property. - Where the registrar or such gazetted officer as may have powers delegated to him under Section 83 is satisfied that any person holding property within his jurisdiction with intent to defeat or delay the execution of any order, under a co-operative demand certificate for recovery of dues, or with intent to avoid payment of dues from such person under this Act, rules or bye-laws-

(a) is about to dispose of the whole or any part of such property ; or

(b) is about to remove the whole or any part of such property from the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Registrar or of such gazetted officer;

the Registrar or such gazetted officer may, unless adequate security is furnished, as he may require, direct the conditional attachment of the said property or such part thereof as he thinks necessary, notwithstanding that the claimant or owner of the property may reside elsewhere and such attachment shall have the same force and effect as if it had been made by a competent civil Court and shall continue in force until withdrawn or cancelled.

82. Registrar to be civil Court for certain purposes. - The Registrar or any person empowered by him in this behalf shall be deemed, when exercising any powers under this Act for the recovery of any amount by attachment and sale or by the sale without attachment of any property, or when passing any orders on any application made to him for such recovery or to take any step in aid of such recovery, to be a civil Court for the purpose of Article 182 of the First Schedule to the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (IX of 1908).

83. Recovery of sums due. - (1) All dues recoverable under this Act or Rules framed thereunder except those referred to the Tribunal for adjudication under sub-section (3) of Section 64 shall be reduced to the form of a co-operative demand certificate as in Schedule A over the signature of the Registrar or of such gazetted officers as may have powers delegated to them by the Registrar in this behalf and shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue and shall be paid to the certificate holder or his authorised nominee. Such certificate shall be in the name of the claimant and shall be delivered to him.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), all the said dues shall also be recoverable as a public demand in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Public Demands Recovery Act, (Bengal Act III of 1913 as adapted by Meghalaya), on a written requisition sent to the certificate officer in the prescribed from over the signature of the Registrar or of such gazetted officer as may have powers delegated to him by the Registrar in this behalf.

Explanation. - The certificate officer means the officer so defined in and the prescribed form means the form so prescribed under the Public Demands Recovery Act.

(3) In case of the recoverable loan dues referred to the tribunal, recovery of the same will be made on the basis of the order passed by the tribunal and in the manner and the procedure as laid down in Section 64.

84. Registrar may order a meeting of creditors. - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, where a compromise or arrangement is proposed between a registered society and its creditor or creditors or any class of them, the Registrar, upon an application made by a registered society or by liquidator in case of a society in respect of which an order has been passed for the winding up thereof, or by a creditor or creditors or any class of creditors, may order a meeting of the creditors.

(2) If a majority in number of creditors or the class of creditors, as the case may be representing claims to three-fourths of the debt due by the society to the creditors or class of creditors, at a meeting agree to any compromise or arrangement and if the Registrar agrees to such compromise or arrangement and gives his sanction, then the compromise or the arrangement shall be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors and also on the society or on the liquidator in the case of a society in respect of which an order has been passed for the winding up thereof, and on all persons who may be required by the liquidator to contribute to the assets of the society.

Chapter XV

Miscellaneous

85. Society to be a body corporate. - Every registered society shall be deemed to be a body corporate by the name under which it is registered with perpetual succession and a common seal, and with power to hold property, to enter into contracts, institute and defend suits and other legal proceedings and to do all things necessary for the purposes for which it was constituted.

86. Registrar of members. - Any register or list of members or shares kept by any registered society shall be prima facie evidence of any of the following particulars entered therein :

(a) the date on which the name of any person was entered in such register or list as a member ; and

(b) the date on which any such member ceased to be a member.

87. Entries in books of registered society shall be received as prima facie evidence. - (1) A copy of any entry in a book of a registered society, regularly kept in the course of business shall, if certified by the Chairman or Secretary of the society, be received in any suit or legal proceeding as prima facie evidence of the existence of such entry, and shall be admitted as evidence of the matters transactions and accounts therein recorded in every case where, and to the same extent as the original entry itself, is admissible.

(2) No officer or liquidator of a registered society and no officer in whose office the books of a registered society are deposited after liquidation shall in any legal proceedings to which the society or the liquidator is not a party, be compelled to produce any of the society's books the contents of which can be proved under sub-section (1) or to appear as a witness to prove the matters, transactions and accounts therein recorded, unless specially so directed by an order of the Court of the arbitrator.

88. Savings of existing societies. - (1) Every existing at the commencement of this Act which has been registered or deemed to have been registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (II of 1912), shall be deemed to be registered under this Act ; and its bye-laws shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue in force until altered or rescinded and shall to such extent be deemed to be registered under this Act.

(2) All appointments rules and orders made, notifications and notices issued, all transactions entered into and all suits and other proceedings instituted under the said Act shall continue and shall, so far as may be, deemed to have been respectively made, issued entered into or instituted under this Act.

89. Construction of reference to Act II of 1912. - All references to the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 occurring in any enactment made by any authority in India and for the time being in force in Meghalaya, shall in the application of any such enactment thereto, be construed as references to this Act, and anything done, or any proceeding commenced in pursuance of such enactment on or after the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to have been done or to have commenced and to have had effect as if the reference in such enactment to the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912, had been a reference to this Act and no such thing or proceeding shall be deemed to have been invalid on the ground that such enactment did not refer to this Act.

90. Act VII of 1913 not to apply. - The provisions of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 shall not apply to registered societies.

91. Acts of societies etc. not to be invalidated by certain defects. - (1) No act of a registered society or of a managing or controlling body or of any officer or liquidator done in good faith in pursuance of the business of the society shall be deemed to be invalid by reason only of some defect subsequently discovered in the organisation of the society or in the constitution of any such body or in the appointment or election of the officer or liquidator or on the ground that such officer or liquidator was disqualified from appointment.

(2) No act done in good faith by any person appointed under this Act shall be invalid merely by reason of the fact that his appointment has been cancelled or in consequence of any order subsequently passed under this Act.

(3) The Registrar shall decide whether any act was done in good faith in pursuance of the business of a society.

92. Power to exempt societies from provisions of this Act. - The Government of Meghalaya may, by general or special order, exempt any registered society or class of registered societies from any of the provisions of this Act or may direct that such provisions shall apply to such society with such modifications as may be specified in the order.

93. Rules and bye-laws not to be deemed to go beyond the Act. - Rules framed under this Act and bye-laws registered under this Act shall not be deemed to go beyond the provisions of this Act if their effect is not to lessen the degree of control expressly provided for in the Act.

94. Power to exempt societies from conditions as to registration. - Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Government of Meghalaya may, by special order and subject to such conditions if any, as it may impose, exempt any society from any of the requirements of this Act as to registration.

95. Power to order recoupment of expenditure. - Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force the State Government may, by a general or special order, require of every registered society or a class of registered societies to make lump-sum contribution of such sum annually to be fixed by the Registrar towards the recoupment of administrative expenditure incurred by the Government of Meghalaya in respect of inspection supervision and guidance of a society or class of societies or of any service to such society or class of societies.

96. Power to seize records of society. - (1) If the Registrar or any person authorised by him in this behalf, while making audit, inspection, inquiry or supervision, as the case may be, believe or has reason to believe that the registered society is not keeping or maintaining the accounts, books and records, of the society property or finds or reasonably suspects gross negligence of duties misappropriation or misuse of funds of the society, irregularity in recording proceedings or keeping accounts or books, he shall have power to take possession of any or all books, registers or documents, cash in hand or account books of the society and remove such seized property or keep in proper custody such seized property till it is disposed of in any manner as may be directed by the Registrar.

(2) The person seizing the property of the society under sub-section (1) shall prepare an inventory of the properties seized in duplicate with this signature and require the officer or member of the society from whose possession or custody the property is seized to put his signature in witness thereof and, if such officer or member refused to sign, then the person seizing the property shall call upon two or more persons to sign the seizure list. A copy of the list prepares under this section signed by the witnesses shall be delivered to the officer of the society.

(3) The Registrar shall take immediate steps by way of audit or inspection and pass such orders as he may think fit.

(4) The administrative head of a civil sub-division or administrative area shall give police help to all officers mentioned in sub-section (1) of this section when sought for.

97. Power of the Managing body of an affiliating Society to enquiry into the affairs of a member society. - When a registered society takes a loan and enters into business transaction with affiliating society and defaults payment of the debt or dues on account of supply and services received, any member of the managing body of a affiliating society, may examine and look into the accounts and working of such defaulting society and report the result of enquiry or examination particularly with reference to the said loan or other dues to the affiliating society and recommend any suggestion in his report. The defaulter society shall furnish such information and produce such documents, books and accounts as the member of the managing body may require.

98. Limitation. - (1) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of the Indian Limitation Act, 1908, the period of limitation for the institution of a claim to recover any sum, including the interest thereon due to a registered society by a member thereof shall be computed from the date on which such member dies or ceases to be a member of a society.

(2) The Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (IX of 1908), shall not apply to any debt or liability due by any member, past member or deceased member to any society in respect of which an order of dissolution has been passed under this Act.

99. Power to exempt societies from the operation of the Assam Money Lender's Act. - The Government of Meghalaya by notification in the official Gazette may exempt a registered society from any or all the provisions of the Meghalaya Money Lender's Act (Assam Act, IV of 1934 as adapted by Meghalaya) for the time being in force.

100. Power to make Rules. - The State Government may, may after previous publication make rules to carry out the purposes and objects of this Act, and such rules may provide a penalty not exceeding five hundred rupees for a breach thereof.

101. Repeal. - The Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (II of 1912) is hereby repealed in so far as it applies to Meghalaya to the extent specified in column 4 of Schedule B.

Schedule A

[See Section 83]

Co-operative Demand Certificate granted under Section 83(1) of the Meghalaya Co-operative
Societies Act, (Assam Act I of 1950 as adapted by Meghalaya).

(To be realised as an arrear of land revenue by the revenue authority within whose jurisdiction the judgment debtor's property situated)

Case No. ...............of 19...

District/Sub-division

In the matter of........................

Whereas............ has made a reference in writing to me complaining/determining that a sum of Rs.................................. (Rupees..........................) by way of under Section of the Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Act (Assam Act 1 of 1950 as adapted by meghalaya) and a sum of Rs.................(Rupees ) by way of interest is/are due from you and you have evaded payment of the same and whereas a notice of demand calling on you to pay the dues within the specified time was served with notice to show cause;

And whereas you have not paid up your dues specified in the notice ;

And whereas you have not submitted explanation/your explanation is unsatisfactory;

Now, therefore I, under authority of sub-section (1) of Section 83 of the Meghalava Co-operative Societies Act, (Assam Act, I of 1950 as adapted by Meghalaya) do hereby order that the above-mentioned sum of Rs is due to the above-named from you and that you will pay further interest on the principal sum at the rate of ............. per cent per annum from ............... together with all costs till the date of realisation.

I further order that right title and interest of..............in the properties set out and described in the schedule below be sold as an arrear of land revenue under the provisions of the Meghalaya Land Revenue Regulation (Assam Regulation, 1 of 1886 as adapted by Meghalaya) and that if the sale proceeds should be found insufficient to discharge the dues with subsequent interest at the above rate till the date of realisation and costs in full, the balance be realised by attachment and sale of other moveable and immovable property of the judgement debtor as an arrear of land revenue.

Schedule

Dated Shillong

The...............

Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Meghalaya,
Officer empowered under Section 83 (1)
of Meghalaya Co-operative Societies Act,
(Assam Act, I of 1950
as adapted by Meghalaya)

N.B. The irrelevant words/portions may be struck off and relevant entires may be made where necessary.

Schedule B

[See Section 10]

Year	No.	Short title	Extent of repeal
1912	II	The Co-operative Societies Act, 1912	The whole, with the exception of subsection (a) of Section 28, and of subsection (b) of Section 28, so far as it relates to the stamp duties specified in the second paragraph thereof.


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