Short Answer

Yes, society members can use the Right to Information (RTI) to obtain details of cooperative proceedings if the society falls under the RTI Act.

Detailed Explanation

Section 2(f) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 defines "information" as any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form. This means that members of a cooperative society can request information related to the proceedings, decisions, financial transactions, and other relevant documents of the society under the RTI Act.

Furthermore, Section 8 of the RTI Act lists certain exemptions where information may not be disclosed, such as information that would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests of the state, etc. However, if the requested information does not fall under any of the exempted categories, the society must provide the information to the member within the stipulated time frame.

Practical Examples

• Mr. Patel, a member of a cooperative housing society, files an RTI application seeking details of the recent elections held in the society, including the list of candidates, voting results, and minutes of the meeting. The society is obligated to provide this information within the specified time limit.

• Ms. Desai, a member of a cooperative credit society, uses RTI to request copies of the financial statements, audit reports, and loan disbursement records of the society for the past three years. The society must furnish this information to her as per the RTI guidelines.

Reference

• Right to Information Act, 2005: https://rti.gov.in/rti-act.pdf