Short Answer

No, a member's family (like spouse or child) cannot attend meetings if they are not the registered member.

Detailed Explanation

Section 31 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 states that only members of a cooperative society have the right to attend general meetings. The Act defines a member as a person who has been admitted to the society and whose name appears in the register of members. This means that only registered members are allowed to participate in meetings and exercise their voting rights.

Similarly, Rule 74 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 reinforces this principle by specifying that only members are entitled to attend general meetings. The rules do not provide for the attendance of family members who are not registered as members of the society.

In practice, this means that the spouse or child of a member who is not officially registered with the cooperative society cannot attend meetings or participate in the decision-making process. Their presence would not be recognized as valid under the Act and Rules.

Real-world Scenarios

• Mr. Patel is a registered member of a cooperative society, but his wife is not. In this case, only Mr. Patel has the right to attend meetings, vote, and participate in discussions.

• A cooperative society is holding its annual general meeting, and a member's child wishes to attend. Since the child is not a registered member, they would not be allowed to participate in the meeting.

Overall, the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act and Rules clearly outline that only registered members have the right to attend meetings and exercise their voting rights. Family members who are not officially registered with the society cannot partake in these activities.

References

• Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Section 31

• Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: Rule 74