Short Answer

A "majority" of members in the context of general body decisions refers to more than half of the total members present and voting.

Detailed Explanation

Section 27 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 states, "A majority of members present and voting shall decide any question." This means that for any decision to be taken by the general body of a cooperative society, more than half of the members present and voting need to be in favor of the decision. In practice, this ensures that decisions are made based on the will of the majority of active members participating in the meeting.

For example, if a cooperative society has 100 members and 60 members are present at a general body meeting, a decision would require the support of at least 31 members (more than half of 60) to be considered as passed. This rule prevents a small group of members from imposing decisions on the entire society without the support of the majority.

In another scenario, if there is a tie in the voting process where an equal number of members are in favor and against a decision, the chairman of the meeting usually has a casting vote to break the tie. This ensures that decisions are not left unresolved due to a deadlock among the members.

Furthermore, the process of determining the majority of members is crucial in maintaining the democratic functioning of cooperative societies. It ensures that important decisions are made with the consent of the majority, reflecting the collective will of the members involved.

References

• Section 27 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961: Official PDF