Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari has promulgated an Ordinance with immediate effect postponing the elections to the state’s co-op societies and allowing the old team to continue in office till new committees are formed.
A notification in this regard reads “Due to the outbreak of the pandemic Covid-19 disease, social and economic activities have suffered a setback since 24.03.2020 in light of the declaration of lockdown in the country. Due to the lockdown, the functioning of co-operative societies in the State has also been adversely affected. Co-operative societies are now being carried out with the help of limited manpower.”
“As per the provisions of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (Mah. XXIV of 1961) and the rules framed thereunder, it is mandatory to conduct the elections to the committees of the co-operative societies within a specified time frame. However, due to the outbreak of pandemic covid-19, it is not possible to conduct such elections within the specified time-frame”, reads the notification further.
As per the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 73AAA of the said Act, the term of the elected members of the committee of the co-operative society is five years from the date of their election co-terminus with the term of the committee. Sub-section (15) of section 73CB of the Act, provides for conducting elections to committees of co-operative societies within a certain stipulated time frame.
Considering the outbreak of covid-19, the State Government has already issued an order on the 17th June 2020 for postponing the elections to all co-operative societies in the State for a period of three months from the 17th June 2020, the notification reminds.
In the present scenario, it is not possible to conduct elections to committees of co-operative societies within a stipulated period, it is considered expedient to suitably amend sections 73AAA(3) and 73CB of the said Act, with a view to enabling the existing members of the committees of co-operative societies to continue in office until committees are duly constituted and p elections to such committees postponed stipulates the notification.
“As both Houses of the State Legislature are not in session and the Governor of Maharashtra is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (Mah. XXIV of 1961), for the purposes aforesaid, this Ordinance is promulgated”, concludes the notification.