In 2013, Government has amended the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 on 13th of August and introduced a new election procedure for cooperative housing societies as per the amended provisions of section 73 CB (1) in the State Cooperative Election Authority.
There are two categories as per housing societies; first is Housing Societies having 200 or more members as on 31st March of the preceding year in ‘C’; second is Housing Societies having 00 or more members as on 31st March of the preceding year in ‘C’.
Both types of societies have to fill an E-2 format form which is due for election. A form from the CEO / Secretary of the society will have to be submitted along with provisional voter list within 7 days from submission. The form is shown below:-
The Registrar / Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies of the concerned ward will then appoint a Returning officer for type ‘C’ societies for the elections.
For type ‘D’ societies the concerned registrar will appoint an authorized officer. The form E-2 along with bye-laws have to be submitted flowing with the final voter list to the concerned registrar. The voter list has to be prepared by considering section 26(1) and the members should be eligible as per section 27 as per the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act and should not be disqualified as per the provisions of bye-laws of the society.
Once the provisional voter list is prepared as per the I-Register of members it can be published on the society notice board calling for any objection if any within 2 days. After 2 days 4 copied from the final list of voters should be submitted to the registrar.
Expenses of elections should be as follows:-
- Remuneration to the Authorised Officer – Rs.750/-
- Election Funds – less than 25 members – Rs.2500/-
- Election Funds – less than 26 – 50 members – Rs.4000/-
- Election Funds – less than 51 – 100 members – Rs.5000/-
- Election Funds – less than 101 – 199 members – Rs.7500/-
The quorum for the meeting will be a simple majority for the existing committee members.