Short Answer

Society elections should be held within 6 months after the end of the current committee's term.

Detailed Explanation

Section 73 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 mandates that every cooperative society shall hold its elections within 6 months after the expiry of the term of the committee. This means that the society must conduct the election process, including nominations, campaigning, and voting, within this timeframe to elect a new committee.

In practice, this provision ensures smooth functioning and continuity in the management of cooperative societies. By holding timely elections, the society can avoid any leadership vacuum and ensure that the committee members are democratically elected by the members.

For example, if a society's committee term ends on January 1st, the society must complete the election process and have a new committee in place by June 30th of the same year. Failure to adhere to this timeline may lead to legal consequences and challenges to the legitimacy of the committee.

Real-world Scenarios

• ABC Cooperative Society's committee term ends on May 15th. As per Section 73, they must conduct elections and have a new committee by November 15th.

• XYZ Housing Society fails to hold elections within the stipulated 6 months period, leading to a dispute among members regarding the validity of the current committee.

Reference

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