Short Answer

The Registrar can take legal action against committee members who refuse to appear before them.

Detailed Explanation

Section 70 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 empowers the Registrar to summon committee members to appear before them. If committee members refuse to comply with the Registrar's summons, the Registrar can take legal action against them. This can include imposing fines or other penalties as prescribed under the Act.

Furthermore, Rule 65 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 outlines the procedure for dealing with non-compliance by committee members. The Registrar can issue a show-cause notice to the defaulting members, giving them an opportunity to explain their actions. If the members still fail to appear before the Registrar, the Registrar can initiate legal proceedings against them.

In practice, if committee members refuse to appear before the Registrar, the Registrar will first issue a summons requiring their presence. If the members continue to disregard the summons, the Registrar can escalate the matter by initiating legal action. This ensures that committee members fulfill their obligations and responsibilities towards the cooperative society.

For example, if the committee members of a housing cooperative refuse to attend a meeting called by the Registrar to address financial irregularities, the Registrar can take legal action against them. This may involve imposing fines or even removing them from their positions within the cooperative society.

In another scenario, if committee members of an agricultural cooperative fail to appear before the Registrar to discuss mismanagement of funds, the Registrar can issue show-cause notices and eventually take legal action against them for non-compliance.

Overall, the Registrar has the authority to enforce compliance with summons and take legal action against committee members who refuse to appear before them, ensuring accountability and transparency within cooperative societies.

References

• Section 70 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Official PDF

• Rule 65 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: Official PDF