Maharashtra Govt issues ordinance to allow small societies to hold polls sans supervision

The state government issued an ordinance on Tuesday amending the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies (MCS) Act, 1960. Now, housing societies having less than 200 members will be able to hold elections in their annual general meeting every five years, instead of conducting them under the supervision of the election authority constituted by the cooperative department.

The state cabinet had given its approval for the proposed amendments in its meeting held in July. The government is expected to table a Bill in this regard in the ensuing winter session of the legislature, beginning November 19.

Out of over one lakh cooperative housing societies in the state, 90% have less than 200 members. They will benefit from the proposed amendment.

The societies with less than 200 members will not have to go through the tedious procedure of holding elections under the direct supervision of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies. The government has proposed amendment to section 73(c)(b) to simplify the process.

Another provision has been incorporated, whereby the society's managing committee will invite a fine of Rs 25,000 if it fails to submit the audit accounts and other mandatory documents to the state cooperatives department within the set deadline. The government has also made failure to submit self-declaration documents of managing committee members an offence.

In the wake of numerous complaints, the government has proposed that every society member is entitled to inspect all records, books of accounts, and correspondences of the society, free-of-cost. In case a member defaults, the society has been given the power to have a charge on the share and interest of the member or even a past member to the extent of the dues payable by him or her.