Rudolf
I am from Mumbai, and need to know specifically if an associate member can be elected to the post of Secretary/Chairman.
I C Naik
Section 24(2) allows cooperative societies to specify in their bye-laws what rights of a main member can be enjoyed by Associate Member. So please consult your society’s registered bye laws. If your society has registered any of the Model Bye-laws (1984,2001,2009 or 2014) without any modification then as per all these Models Associate Member has only one right of attending members’ meeting where original member is absent. Except 1984 Model all Models have another bye law which allows Associate to contest election with prior written permission of the concerned main member. If so elected to Committee he can also contest to be elected as Chairman or Secretary by the Committee. But this being a conflicting provision any defeated original member can challenge election of an Associate member he will unseat such member as the conflicting bye-law will not rescue the Associate Member. If Associate is elected unopposed then there is no issue.