In a reply in Parliament, the Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, informed that four multi-State cooperative societies in Kerala are currently under investigation.
He stated that in cases of irregularities in the functioning of multi-State cooperative societies, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies of the concerned State and other agencies are requested to conduct inspection or inquiry under Sections 108 and 78 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
The Minister clarified that information regarding investigations into cooperative institutions registered under the respective State Cooperative Societies Acts is not maintained by the Central Government.
To strengthen regulation, transparency and accountability in multi-State cooperative societies, Shah said that the MSCS Act and Rules have been comprehensively amended. These amendments were notified on 03 August 2023 and 04 August 2023 respectively, supplementing the existing legislation and incorporating the provisions of the Ninety-seventh Constitutional Amendment.
He further stated that cooperative societies registered under the MSCS Act, 2002 function as autonomous cooperative organisations and are accountable to their members.
Such societies are required to operate in accordance with the provisions of the MSCS Act, 2002, the rules framed thereunder, and their approved bye-laws, which clearly define the roles and powers of members, the Board, the General Body of the society, and the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS).
