Short Answer

No, a member's spouse cannot automatically join the society without buying a new share.

Detailed Explanation

Section 29 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 addresses the issue of membership in a cooperative society. It states that a person shall not be admitted as a member of a society unless he holds at least one share in the society. This means that for a spouse to join the society, they would need to purchase a share in their own name as per the Act.

Furthermore, Rule 20 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 provides details on the procedure for admission of members. It specifies that a person seeking membership shall apply in writing to the society and shall agree to abide by the Act, Rules, and by-laws of the society. This rule reinforces the requirement for individuals, including spouses, to follow the prescribed procedure for becoming a member.

In practice, this means that a member's spouse cannot automatically become a member of the society without acquiring a share in their name and following the proper application process. The Act and Rules aim to ensure that membership is based on ownership of shares and adherence to the society's regulations.

Real-world Scenarios

• Mr. Patel is a member of a cooperative society and wants to include his wife as a member. To do so, Mrs. Patel would need to purchase a share in her name and submit a membership application as per the Act and Rules.

• In another case, Mrs. Desai inherits her husband's membership in a cooperative society. However, she still needs to buy a share in her name to officially become a member of the society.

Reference

• Section 29 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961

• Rule 20 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965