Short Answer

The society can charge water leakage losses in bills to its members under certain conditions.

Detailed Explanation

Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 empowers the society to recover any dues from its members, including water leakage losses in bills. This section allows the society to levy charges on members for various services provided, including utilities like water supply. If a member is responsible for water leakage leading to increased bills, the society can recover the additional costs from that member.

Rule 119 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 further elaborates on the procedure for recovering such charges. According to this rule, the society must first issue a notice to the member informing them of the additional charges due to water leakage. The member should be given a reasonable opportunity to rectify the issue and pay the outstanding amount. If the member fails to comply, the society can take necessary action to recover the dues.

Practical Examples

• Scenario 1: A member's faulty plumbing causes water leakage resulting in increased bills for the society. The society identifies the issue, informs the member through a notice, and gives them a chance to fix the problem. If the member fails to do so, the society can charge the additional costs to the member.

• Scenario 2: The society conducts regular audits of water meters and identifies discrepancies indicating possible water leakage in a member's unit. The society sends a notice to the member, requesting them to address the issue. If the member does not take corrective action, the society can recover the losses from the member.

• Scenario 3: A member knowingly ignores a leaking tap in their unit, leading to substantial water wastage and increased bills for the society. The society intervenes, notifies the member of the situation, and demands payment for the excess charges incurred due to the negligence.

References

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

• Rule 119 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: [Official PDF]