Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (5), no person shall be eligible for membership of a co-operative society except the following, namely:— • 9 of 1872. (a) an individual competent to contract under section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, (b) any other co-operative society, (c) the State Government, and (d) any association or body of persons, whether incorporated or not, which is approved by the State Government by a general or special order: Provided that a person who has not attained his majority shall be eligible for membership of a co-operative society exclusively formed for the benefit of the students of educational institutions. (2) Subject to the rules and the by-laws, any person eligible for membership of a co-operative society may, on application, be admitted as a member by the society. (3) Every application for admission as a member of a co-operative society shall be disposed of by the society within one month from the date of the receipt of the application, and the decision of the society on the application shall be communicated to the applicant within fifteen days from the date of the decision: Provided that if the decision of the society is not communicated to the applicant within a period of forty-five days from the date of the receipt of the application, the society shall be deemed to have made a decision, on the date of expiry of such period, refusing admission to the applicant. (4) Any applicant, being aggrieved with the decision of a co-operative society refusing to admit him as a member of such society, may appeal to the Registrar— (a) within one month from the date of communication of such decision to such applicant, and (b) where the decision of the society is not communicated to such applicant within the period referred to in the proviso to sub-section (3), within one month from the expiry of such period, and the Registrar shall make such order, as he thinks fit, on such application within two months from the date of receipt of the appeal: Persons eligible for membership of co- operative society. 195 The West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1973. [West Ben. Act (Chapter VII.—Eligibility for membership of co-operative societies, and privileges, liabilities and obligations of members of co-operative societies.—Sections 60-62.) Provided that no order to the prejudice of the appellant shall be made without giving him, in the manner prescribed, an opportunity of being heard. (5) (a) A co-operative society may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, admit, in the interest of the society, any person as a nominal or an associate member. (b) A nominal member of any co-operative society other than an • industrial co-operative society shall not be entitled to any share in any form whatever in the assets or profits of the society. (c) No nominal or associate member shall be elected to the managing committee of a co-operative society. (d) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules, a nominal or an associate member of a co-operative society shall have such rights and privileges, and be subject to such liabilities, of a member as may be provided for in the by-laws. Votes of members.