Short Answer

Societies are generally allowed to impose advance maintenance, which can be for several months ahead, as per the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 and Rules, 1965.

Detailed Explanation

Section 29 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 empowers cooperative societies to levy maintenance charges on its members. This section does not specifically mention whether the maintenance charges should be imposed monthly or in advance. However, Rule 88 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 provides guidelines for the collection of maintenance charges. According to Rule 88, the society can decide the frequency of collecting maintenance charges, which can include collecting it in advance for several months.

In practice, many cooperative housing societies opt to collect maintenance charges in advance for a few months to ensure a steady inflow of funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the society's premises. This practice helps in avoiding delays in payment and ensures the smooth functioning of the society.

Real-world Scenarios

• XYZ Cooperative Housing Society decides to collect maintenance charges quarterly in advance from its members. This approach helps the society in planning its budget effectively and carrying out maintenance activities without any financial constraints.

• ABC Cooperative Society faces issues with members delaying their monthly maintenance payments, leading to financial instability. To address this, the society decides to switch to collecting maintenance charges six months in advance, ensuring a consistent flow of funds for ongoing maintenance work.

• LMN Cooperative Society faces challenges in meeting its maintenance expenses due to irregular payment by members. To streamline the process, the society amends its bylaws to allow for collecting maintenance charges annually in advance, providing financial stability for planned maintenance activities.

Reference

• Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Section 29

• Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: Rule 88