(1) A co-operative may not be registered with the same name as another cooperative business already registered under this Act or the Co-operative Societies Act :
Provided that where the articles of association of a secondary cooperative require all its member-co-operative shall have its location or other distinguishing feature included in common name.
(2) Every co-operative shall display its full name in legible characters in a conspicuous position:
(a) at every office or place at which it carries on business;
(b) in all notice and other official publications;
(c) on all its contracts, business letters, orders for goods, invoices, statements of accounts, receipts and letters of credit; and
(d) on all bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements, cheques and orders for money it signs or that are signed on its behalf.
(3) Every co-operative shall display its full name in legible characters on its common seal.
(4) Nothing in Sub-section (2) shall prevent a co-operative displaying more conspicuously than the full name, any shorter name by which it is popularly known and which is specifically provided for in the articles of association.
(5) A Co-operative may, by an amendment to its articles of association, change its name;
provided, however, that before changing its name it shall send notice of its intention to change its name to the Registrar, along with proposed name/s, and the Registrar shall, within fifteen days of receiving such notice inform the cooperative if such name is already in use by another co-operative.
(6) Where a co-operative changes its name, the Registrar shall
(a) enter the new name of the co-operative in the register of co-operatives in place of the former name;
(b) make necessary changes in the memorandum of association and articles of association;
(c) issue a fresh certificated of registration with the necessary alterations;
(d) communicate to the co-operative, by registered post, the fresh certificate of registration along with certified copies of the amended Memorandum and Articles.
(7) The change of name of a co-operative shall not affect any rights or obligations of the co-operative or of any of its members or past members of render defective any legal proceeding by or against it; and any legal proceedings which might have been continued or commenced by or against the cooperative by its former name may be continued or commenced by its new name.
(8) A co-operative which changes its name shall publicise such change in name in a popular newspaper in the district in which its registered office is located.
Location of Registered office