Short Answer

In case there is only one candidate for each post in a society election (election by acclaim), a specific procedure needs to be followed.

Detailed Explanation

Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 deals with the procedure for uncontested elections. According to this section, if there is only one candidate for each post, the election can be conducted by acclaim. This means that the candidates are declared elected without the need for a formal voting process. The election officer or the presiding officer can declare the candidates elected by acclaim after the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

In practice, this procedure simplifies the election process when there is no contest for the positions. It saves time and resources that would have been spent on conducting a formal voting process. However, it is essential to ensure that the candidates meet all the eligibility criteria and have submitted valid nominations before declaring them elected by acclaim.

Real-world Scenarios

• In a cooperative housing society, if there is only one candidate for the position of the chairman and one candidate for the position of the secretary, the election officer can declare them elected by acclaim.

• In a cooperative credit society, if there is only one candidate for each of the key positions on the committee, they can be declared elected without a formal voting process.

Step-by-step process:

• Verify that there is only one candidate for each post.

• Ensure that the candidates meet all eligibility criteria.

• Declare the candidates elected by acclaim after the withdrawal date has passed.

Reference

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