Short Answer

Yes, an individual member can contest the common electricity bill if they believe it is incorrect.

Detailed Explanation

Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 empowers individual members to contest common expenses, including utility bills, if they feel there is an error. This section allows members to raise objections and seek clarification on any charges they find inaccurate. In practice, the member can bring up the issue during the society's general body meeting or directly with the society's management committee. The society must address the concern and provide a satisfactory explanation to the member.

Furthermore, Rule 151 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 outlines the procedure for resolving disputes related to common expenses like electricity bills. This rule mandates that the society must maintain proper records of all expenses, including utility bills, and make them available for inspection by members. If an individual member disputes the accuracy of the electricity bill, they can request to examine the relevant records and receipts to verify the charges.

In a real-world scenario, if a member notices discrepancies in the common electricity bill, they can submit a written complaint to the society's management committee. The committee is then required to investigate the matter, provide the necessary documents for verification, and resolve the dispute in a fair and transparent manner. If the member remains unsatisfied with the resolution, they may escalate the issue to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies for further intervention.

For instance, consider a cooperative housing society where a member notices a significant increase in the electricity charges without any apparent reason. The member raises this concern during a general body meeting, and upon examination of the records, it is discovered that there was an error in meter reading leading to incorrect billing. The society rectifies the mistake and adjusts the bill accordingly, resolving the dispute amicably.

In another scenario, if a member believes that they are being unfairly charged for electricity consumption that does not correspond to their actual usage, they can request a detailed breakdown of the billing calculation. By scrutinizing the records and comparing them with their individual meter readings, the member can ascertain the accuracy of the charges and challenge any discrepancies through the prescribed dispute resolution process.

References

• Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Section 73

• Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: Rule 151