1. Short title and extent.—(1) This Act may be called the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912; and
(2) it extends to the whole of India except 2
[the territories which, immediately before the 1
st
November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States].
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(a) “by-laws” means the registered by-laws for the time being in force, and includes a registered
amendment of the by-laws:
(b) “committee” means the governing body of a registered society to whom the management of
its affairs is entrusted:
(c) “member” includes a person joining in the application for the registration of a society and
aperson admitted to membership after registration in accordance with the by laws and any rules:
(d) “officer” includes a chairman, secretary, treasurer, member of committee, or other person
empowered under the rules or the by-laws to give directions in regard to the business of the society:
(e) “registered society” means a society registered or deemed to be registered under this Act:
1. This Act has been declared to be in force in the Sonthal Parganas by notification under s. 3 of the Sonthal Parganas
Settlement Regulation (3 of 1872), see B. and O. Gazette, 1913, Pt. II, p. 105.
It has been repealed in its application to—
(1) the Bombay Presidency by the Bombay Co-operative Societies Act, 1925 (Bom. 7 of 1925);
(2) the Madras Presidency by the Madras Co-operative Societies Act, 1932 (Mad. 6 of 1932);
(3) Bihar and Orissa by the B. and O. Co-operative Societies Act, 1935 (B. and O. 6 of 1935);
(4) Orissa, separately, by the Orissa Laws Regulation, 1936 (1 of 1936);
(5) Coorg by the Coorg Co-operative Societies Act, 1936 (Coorg 2 of 1936);
(6) Bengal, with certain exceptions, by the Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1940 (Ben. 21 of 1940);
(7) Vidarbha region of Bombay by Bombay Act 20 of 1960;
(8) Mahakoshal region by Madhya Pradesh Act 17 of 1961; and
(9) the Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands by Reg. 3 of 1973.It has been amended in—
(1) the U.P. by the Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1919 (U.P. 3 of 1919), the Co-operative Societies (U.P.
Amendment) Act, 1944 (U.P. 1 of 1944) as continued in force by the U.P. Expiring Laws Continuance Act, 1948 (U.P. 13 of
1948) and Uttar Pradesh Act 10 of 1957;
(2) the C.P. by the Co-operative Societies (Central Provinces Amendment) Act, 1930 (C.P. 7 of 1930) and in C.P. and
Berar by the following Acts as continued in force by the C.P. and Berar Expiring laws Continuance and Amending Act, 1947
(C.P. &B. 48 of 1947):—
(i) the C.P. and Berar Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1940 (C.P. & B. 5 of 1940);
(ii) the C.P. and Berar Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1941 (C.P. & B. 6 of 1941);
(iii) the C.P. and Berar Co-operative Societies Amendment and Liquidators, Orders Validation Act, 1945 (C.P. & B. 10 of
1945); and
(iv) Madhya Pradesh by M.P. Act 8 of 1954.
2. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Order, 1956, for “Part B States”.
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(f) “Registrar” means a person appointed to perform the duties of a Registrar of Co-operative
Societies under this Act: and
(g) “rules” means rules made under this Act.