Documentation, Records, and Audits
How do we verify that the society has actually done the audit it claims to have done?
Written By: GatePal Analyst
Last Updated on
Short Answer
To verify that a society has actually conducted the audit it claims, one can refer to Section 81 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 and Rule 70 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965.
Detailed Explanation
Section 81 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 mandates that every society shall prepare an annual statement of accounts and get it audited by a qualified auditor. This audit report must be submitted to the Registrar within a specified time. Rule 70 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 further elaborates on the audit process, including the qualifications of the auditor, the contents of the audit report, and the submission deadlines.
In practice, to verify the audit, one can request a copy of the audit report from the society's office or the Registrar's office. The audit report should contain details of the financial transactions, balance sheet, income and expenditure statement, and any qualifications or observations made by the auditor. By reviewing this report, one can ensure that the audit has been conducted as per the legal requirements.
Real-world Scenarios
Scenario 1: Mr. Patel, a member of a cooperative housing society, doubts the authenticity of the audit claimed by the society's committee. He requests a copy of the audit report from the society's office and cross-checks the financial details to verify the audit process.
Scenario 2: A cooperative credit society submits its audit report to the Registrar within the prescribed timeline, as per Section 81 of the Act. The Registrar reviews the report to ensure compliance with the audit requirements.
Step-by-step process:
Request a copy of the audit report from the society or Registrar's office.
Review the report for financial details, qualifications, and observations.
Cross-check the report with the legal requirements specified in Section 81 of the Act and Rule 70 of the Rules.
Reference
Section 81 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Official PDF
Rule 70 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: Official PDF
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