Short Answer

No, a committee member cannot serve on another society's committee simultaneously.

Detailed Explanation

Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 prohibits a committee member from being a member of the committee of more than one society at the same time. This means that an individual serving as a committee member in one society cannot hold a similar position in another society concurrently. This provision aims to prevent conflicts of interest, ensure undivided loyalty, and maintain transparency within cooperative societies.

In practice, this rule is strictly enforced to uphold the principles of good governance and prevent any potential misuse of power or influence. It ensures that committee members focus solely on the affairs of the society they are elected to serve, without being distracted by conflicting responsibilities in multiple societies.

Real-world Scenarios

• Mr. Patel is a committee member in Society A. He is approached to join the committee of Society B as well. However, as per Section 73 of the Act, he must choose to serve on the committee of either Society A or Society B, but not both simultaneously.

• Ms. Desai is elected as a committee member in two different societies without realizing the legal restriction. Upon being informed about the prohibition under Section 73, she decides to resign from one of the committees to comply with the law.

• In a case where a committee member attempts to circumvent this rule by concealing their dual membership, legal action can be taken against them for violating the provisions of the Act.

Reference

• Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Official PDF