(1) The Registrar may, on the application of -
(a) a co-operative society to which the society concerned is affiliated; or
(b) a majority of the members of the committee of the society; or
(c) not less than one-tenth of the total number of members of the society,
or, of his own motion, either by himself or by a person authorised by him by order in writing, hold and inquiry into the constitution, working and financial condition of a co-operative society.
(2) The Registrar, or the person authorised by him under subsection (1), shall, for the purpose of an inquiry under this section, have the following powers, namely:-
(a) he 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 at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof;
(b) he may summon any person, who, he has reason to believe, has knowledge of any of the affairs of the society, to appear before him at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof and may examine such person on oath; and
(c)(i) he may, notwithstanding any rule or bye-law specifying the period of notice for a general meeting of the society, require the officers of the society to call a general meeting at such time and place at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof and to determine such matters as may be directed by him, and where the officers of the society refuse or fail to call such a meeting, he shall have power to call it himself;
(ii) any meeting called under sub-clause (i), shall have all the powers of a general meeting called under the byelaws of the society and its proceedings shall be regulated by bye-laws.
(3) All officers, members and employees of the society, whose affairs are investigated under this section, shall furnish such information in their possession in regard to the affairs of the society as the Registrar or the person authorised by the Registrar may require.
(4) It shall be competent for the Registrar to withdraw any enquiry from the officer to whom it is entrusted, and to hold the enquiry himself or to entrust it to any other person as he deems fit.
(5) When an inquiry is made under this section, the Registrar shall communicate the result of the inquiry to the society and to the cooperative society, if any, to which that society is affiliated.
(6) The Registrar may, by an order in writing, direct any officer of the society or its financing bank or any other society to take such action as may be specified in the order to remedy, within such time as may be specified therein, the defects, if any, disclosed as a result of the enquiry.
64[55-A.Inspection by Registrar. - (1) The Registrar may subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed, of his own motion, by himself or by a person authorized by him by an order in writing, hold inspection of the books of a co-operative society.
(2) The Registrar, or the person authorized by him under subsection (1) shall, for the purposes of the inspection under this section, have the following powers, namely:-
(a) he 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 at a place and time, as directed by the Registrar or the person authorised by the Registrar; and
(b) he may summon any person who, he has reason to believe, has knowledge of any of the affairs of the society, to appear before him at any place, and may examine such person on oath.
(3) All officers, members and employees of the society whose books are inspected under this section shall furnish such information in their possession in regard to the affairs of the society as the Registrar or the person authorized by the Registrar may require.
(4) The Registrar may, by an order in writing, direct the society or any officer of the society or its financing bank or any other organisation to take such action as may be specified in the order to remedy, within such time as may be specified therein, the defects, if any, disclosed as a result of the inspection.]
(a) a co-operative society to which the society concerned is affiliated; or
(b) a majority of the members of the committee of the society; or
(c) not less than one-tenth of the total number of members of the society,
or, of his own motion, either by himself or by a person authorised by him by order in writing, hold and inquiry into the constitution, working and financial condition of a co-operative society.
(2) The Registrar, or the person authorised by him under subsection (1), shall, for the purpose of an inquiry under this section, have the following powers, namely:-
(a) he 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 at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof;
(b) he may summon any person, who, he has reason to believe, has knowledge of any of the affairs of the society, to appear before him at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof and may examine such person on oath; and
(c)(i) he may, notwithstanding any rule or bye-law specifying the period of notice for a general meeting of the society, require the officers of the society to call a general meeting at such time and place at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof and to determine such matters as may be directed by him, and where the officers of the society refuse or fail to call such a meeting, he shall have power to call it himself;
(ii) any meeting called under sub-clause (i), shall have all the powers of a general meeting called under the byelaws of the society and its proceedings shall be regulated by bye-laws.
(3) All officers, members and employees of the society, whose affairs are investigated under this section, shall furnish such information in their possession in regard to the affairs of the society as the Registrar or the person authorised by the Registrar may require.
(4) It shall be competent for the Registrar to withdraw any enquiry from the officer to whom it is entrusted, and to hold the enquiry himself or to entrust it to any other person as he deems fit.
(5) When an inquiry is made under this section, the Registrar shall communicate the result of the inquiry to the society and to the cooperative society, if any, to which that society is affiliated.
(6) The Registrar may, by an order in writing, direct any officer of the society or its financing bank or any other society to take such action as may be specified in the order to remedy, within such time as may be specified therein, the defects, if any, disclosed as a result of the enquiry.
64[55-A.Inspection by Registrar. - (1) The Registrar may subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed, of his own motion, by himself or by a person authorized by him by an order in writing, hold inspection of the books of a co-operative society.
(2) The Registrar, or the person authorized by him under subsection (1) shall, for the purposes of the inspection under this section, have the following powers, namely:-
(a) he 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 at a place and time, as directed by the Registrar or the person authorised by the Registrar; and
(b) he may summon any person who, he has reason to believe, has knowledge of any of the affairs of the society, to appear before him at any place, and may examine such person on oath.
(3) All officers, members and employees of the society whose books are inspected under this section shall furnish such information in their possession in regard to the affairs of the society as the Registrar or the person authorized by the Registrar may require.
(4) The Registrar may, by an order in writing, direct the society or any officer of the society or its financing bank or any other organisation to take such action as may be specified in the order to remedy, within such time as may be specified therein, the defects, if any, disclosed as a result of the inspection.]
64 Inserted by Act no. 7 of 2016 (w.e.f. 4.4.2016).