In a decisive move to streamline and strengthen the cooperative ecosystem, the Cooperation Department in Buldhana district of Maharashtra has initiated the final-stage process for cancellation of registration of 36 cooperative societies that have remained under liquidation for several years. The step is aimed at cleaning up long-pending non-functional entities and improving transparency and governance in the cooperative sector.
A formal public notice has been issued by the department, inviting all concerned stakeholders to submit any pending financial or legal claims related to the societies within the prescribed timeframe. Officials said the notice marks the last opportunity for members, depositors, creditors and other interested parties to place their claims before the authorities.
The action is being undertaken strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 and the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Rules, 1961.
As per Rule 89(4) of the Rules, any individual or institution having a claim against a cooperative society under liquidation must submit the claim in writing, supported by relevant documents, to the concerned registration office within one month from the date of publication of the notice.
Authorities have made it clear that claims received after the stipulated deadline will not be entertained under any circumstances. The Cooperation Department and the appointed liquidators will not be held responsible for claims submitted after the closure of the claim window, officials said, underscoring the importance of timely compliance.
All 36 societies identified for closure have already been taken into final liquidation under Section 102 of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act. Liquidators were appointed earlier, and a detailed process of verification of assets, liabilities, records and statutory compliance has been completed over the years. With no viable operations or recoverable activity remaining, the department has now moved towards formal cancellation of their registrations.
The societies slated for closure represent a wide cross-section of the cooperative sector. The list includes urban and rural credit cooperatives, housing societies, women-led cooperatives, consumer cooperative stores and workers’ cooperatives, reflecting the breadth of entities affected by prolonged inactivity.
Officials said the move is part of a broader effort by the state administration to rationalise the cooperative framework, remove defunct institutions from official records and ensure that active and compliant cooperatives receive greater administrative focus.
The Cooperation Department has appealed to all members, depositors, borrowers and other stakeholders of the concerned societies to take serious note of the public notice.
It has cautioned that once the registrations are formally cancelled, no future claims, representations or complaints will be considered, effectively bringing a legal and administrative closure to these long-defunct cooperatives.
