Short Answer

Yes, the committee of a cooperative society can consist of co-opted members.

Detailed Explanation

Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 allows for the co-option of members in the committee. This means that in addition to elected members, the committee can include co-opted members. The number of co-opted members is determined by the society's by-laws. Typically, the maximum number of co-opted members cannot exceed one-third of the total number of elected members on the committee.

In practice, the process of co-opting members involves a proposal being made by the committee, followed by a vote among the existing committee members. The co-opted members can bring in expertise or diversity to the committee, enhancing its functioning. However, it is essential to ensure that the co-opted members do not outnumber the elected members to maintain the democratic nature of the committee.

Real-world Scenarios

• Scenario 1: A cooperative society's committee consists of 9 elected members. As per the by-laws, they can co-opt a maximum of 3 members to the committee.

• Scenario 2: A society with 12 elected committee members decides to co-opt 4 additional members for their specialized knowledge in finance and legal matters.

Overall, the co-option of members in the committee provides flexibility and expertise, contributing to the effective governance of the cooperative society.

References

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