(1) The following may be admitted as members of a cooperative society, namely :-
(a) Any citizen of India, who -
(i) has attained age of 18 years;
(ii) is of sound mind;
(iii) is not disqualified from contracting by any law for the time being in force and applicable to him;
(iv) is desirous to utilize the services of the society; and
(v) is ready to accept the responsibilities and liability associated with such memberships;
(b) any other co-operative society;
(c) the State Government; or
(d) any other person, body or local authority, as may be prescribed:
Provided that an individual shall not be eligible to the membership of a financing bank other than a Land Development Bank or such class of co-operative society as may be prescribed in this behalf :
Provided further that in a society exclusively formed for the benefit of students of a school or a college, the condition regarding the age shall not apply :
Provided also that the bye-laws of a society, which is exclusively formed for the benefit of women, may restrict the membership of male individuals.
(2) An application for admission as a member of a co-operative society shall lie to the committee of that co-operative society. Such committee shall decide the application and communicate its derision to the applicant within a period of thirty days from the receipt of the application, and where the application is refused, it shall also be necessary for the committee to communicate to the applicant, the reasons for such refusal, within the said period.
(3) If the committee -
(i) refuses the application for admission as a member, an appeal shall lie against such refusal to the Registrar, who may after giving the society a reasonable opportunity of being heard, decide the application in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules and bye-laws and his decision shall be final and binding on the society;
(ii) fails to communicate its decision or the reasons of refusal under sub-section (2), within the time specified therein, the applicant may, within a period of sixty days from the expiration of such time, move the Registrar for the decision on his application, which shall be disposed of in the same manner, as if it is an appeal under clause (i).
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