Short Answer

Yes, a member has recourse if the society's committee misplaces membership records.

Detailed Explanation

Section 30 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 empowers the Registrar to direct the society to rectify any omission or error in its records. If a member's records are misplaced by the society's committee, the member can file a complaint with the Registrar under this section. The Registrar can then issue directions to the society to rectify the situation and ensure the member's rights are protected.

Furthermore, Rule 67 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 specifies the procedure for maintaining and rectifying records by the society. If membership records are misplaced, the society is obligated to take necessary steps to reconstruct or rectify the records promptly. Failure to do so can lead to penalties imposed by the Registrar.

In practice, if a member discovers that their records have been misplaced by the society's committee, they should first inform the society in writing. If the society fails to take corrective action, the member can escalate the matter to the Registrar by filing a formal complaint. The Registrar will then investigate the issue and issue appropriate directions to rectify the records.

Real-world Scenarios

• Scenario 1: Mr. Patel, a member of a cooperative society, finds out that his membership records have been misplaced by the society. He informs the society in writing but receives no response. Mr. Patel then files a complaint with the Registrar under Section 30 of the Act.

• Scenario 2: A cooperative society's committee accidentally misplaces the membership records of several members during a data migration process. The affected members collectively file a complaint with the Registrar, seeking rectification of their records under Rule 67 of the Rules.

Reference

• Section 30 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Official PDF

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