Short Answer

Yes, women or reserved-category members can opt out of a reserved seat if they wish.

Detailed Explanation

Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 allows for the resignation of a member of the committee. This means that if a woman or reserved-category member wishes to opt out of a reserved seat, they can do so by submitting their resignation to the committee. In practice, the member should follow the procedures outlined in the Act for resigning from their position. This could involve submitting a written resignation letter to the committee and ensuring that all necessary formalities are completed.

Additionally, Rule 67 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 provides details on the procedure for filling casual vacancies in the committee. If a woman or reserved-category member opts out of a reserved seat, this rule would apply to fill the vacant seat. The society would need to follow the process outlined in Rule 67 to fill the vacant seat with another eligible candidate from the same category.

Practical Examples

• If a woman member of a cooperative society wishes to opt out of her reserved seat on the committee due to personal reasons, she can submit her resignation letter to the committee as per Section 73 of the Act.

• In another scenario, if a reserved-category member decides to step down from their position on the committee, the society would need to follow the procedures in Rule 67 of the Rules to fill the vacant seat.

Reference

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

• Rule 67 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: Official PDF