Short Answer

Associate or sympathizer members are typically not allowed to stand or vote in society elections.

Detailed Explanation

Section 30 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 addresses the eligibility criteria for being a member of the committee. It states that only active members are eligible to be elected or to vote in society elections. Active members are those who hold shares in the society and have paid all their dues. Associate or sympathizer members, who do not hold shares or have not paid their dues, are usually not considered active members and hence cannot participate in the election process.

Furthermore, Rule 26 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 provides guidelines on the conduct of elections. It specifies that only active members have the right to vote in the election of the committee members. This rule ensures that the voting process is fair and representative of the members who have a financial stake in the society.

In practice, during society elections, the election officer or the committee scrutinizes the list of members to verify their eligibility to vote. Associate or sympathizer members are usually excluded from the list of eligible voters if they do not fulfill the criteria of being active members. This helps in maintaining the integrity of the election process and upholding the principles of cooperative governance.

Real-world Scenarios

• In a cooperative housing society election, Mr. X, who is an associate member, tries to cast his vote. However, the election officer informs him that only active members are allowed to vote, and since Mr. X has not paid his dues, he is ineligible to participate in the voting process.

• During the election of the managing committee of a cooperative credit society, a group of sympathizer members express their desire to stand for election. However, they are informed that only active members who hold shares can contest the elections as per the provisions of the Act and Rules.

Reference

• Section 30 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961

• Rule 26 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965