(1) No person shall be a member of a co-operative society except the following, namely-
(a) an individual who except as provided in sub-section (4) of section 18, section 80 and sub-section (2) of section 81, is of the age of majority according to the law to which he is subject and who is of sound mind and is not disqualified from contracting by any law to which he is subject ;
(b) any other co-operative society ;
(c) the State Government ;
(d) the Central Government ;
(e) the State Warehousing Corporation established or deemed to be established under the Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962.
[(ee) a firm registered under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932.]
(f) a body corporate not covered by any other clause and approved by the Registrar, for ordinary or nominal membership of co-operative societies in general or any particular co-operative society or class of co-operative societies on the ground of its being useful in the development of such societies, society or class of societies.
[(g) any association or body of persons whether incorporated or not ;
Provided that a student, who has not attained the age of majority according to the law to which he is subject, shall be eligible for the membership of a co-operative society formed in an educational institution to which he belongs. ]
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) a joint stock company or an individual shall not be admitted as an ordinary member in such co-operative society or societies or class of co-operative society as may be prescribed.