Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Chavda led a delegation that submitted a detailed memorandum to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS), Gujarat, raising issues related to delayed elections, completed managing committee tenures and the legal status of directors in the Gujarat State Cooperative Bank (GSC) and 11 District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).
The memorandum was submitted on Wednesday in the presence of Congress Legislature Party Leader Dr Tushar Chaudhary, along with other party leaders and representatives associated with the cooperative sector.
The representation calls for an immediate examination of the legal position of the concerned cooperative banks and states that administrators should be appointed wherever required under the applicable law. It also urges the authorities to ensure that pending elections are conducted through a transparent and time-bound process.
The memorandum separately raises the issue of the Ahmedabad District Co-operative Bank, referring to the reported delay in elections for more than 15 years. It calls for verification of the matter through relevant case numbers, court orders, parties involved and certified records before any conclusion is reached.
A major part of the representation focuses on the legal status of individual directors. It calls for a director-wise examination of eligibility, tenure, election, appointment, co-option and reappointment records. The memorandum also refers to the RBI’s Rural Co-operative Banks – Governance Amendment Directions, 2026, particularly provisions concerning continuous tenure and the three-year cooling-off period, wherever applicable.
The representation further calls for scrutiny of transitional provisions, previous terms, interruptions of less than three years and the effective dates of the relevant provisions. It also seeks examination of how RBI directions, court orders and applicable cooperative laws interact in determining the status of directors and boards.
In cases where a director is found prima facie ineligible, the memorandum proposes that the concerned person be issued a show-cause notice and given an opportunity of hearing before any further action is taken. Where a board is found legally unable to continue, it calls for action as permitted under the applicable law.
The memorandum also raises issues concerning primary milk cooperative societies, particularly their registration process and the requirement of NOCs from milk unions. It calls for greater transparency in bonuses paid to milk producers, including disclosure of the calculation methodology, accounting details and timely payment.
The representation concludes by urging time-bound action under the applicable cooperative laws and RBI directions, covering elections, board tenure, transparency and members’ rights.
