Section 106 of The Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002
1[106. Appointment of Co-operative Information Officer.-- (1) Every multi-State co-operative society shall appoint a Co-operative Information Officer to provide the information relating to affairs and management of the society to the members of the society and such information shall be confined to the information falling under the disclosure norms specified by the society in its bye-laws.
- (2)Any member of multi-State co-operative society shall make an application, accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to get information specified in sub-section (1).
- (3)The Co-operative Information Officer shall, within thirty days from the date of receipt of application, either provide the information or reject the application specifying the reason to do so.
- (4)Any member of the multi-State co-operative society whose application has been rejected may prefer an appeal to the Co-operative Ombudsman within a period of one month from the date of such rejection and his decision shall be final and binding.]
Summary
- Obligates every multi-state co-operative society to appoint a Co-operative Information Officer to provide information to members.
- Restricts the information that can be shared strictly to topics covered under the disclosure standards written in the society's own bye-laws.
- Mandates that members must submit a formal application and pay a prescribed fee to receive any information from this officer.
- Sets a strict deadline of thirty days for the Co-operative Information Officer to either provide the requested information or reject the application.
- Requires the officer to state the specific reasons in writing if they reject a member's application for information.
- Permits members whose applications are rejected to file an appeal with the Co-operative Ombudsman within one month, making the Ombudsman's decision final.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Who is responsible for providing information to members under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002?
Under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, every society must appoint a Co-operative Information Officer who is responsible for providing authorized information to members.
2. What is the time limit for a Co-operative Information Officer to reply under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002?
Under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, the Co-operative Information Officer must either provide the information or reject the application within thirty days of receiving it.
3. Can a member appeal a rejected information request under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002?
Yes, under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, if an application is rejected, the member can file an appeal to the Co-operative Ombudsman within one month of the rejection.
4. Is there a fee to request information under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002?
Yes, under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, a member's application for information must be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed by the rules.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, what determines the scope of information that the Co-operative Information Officer can disclose to a member?
Q2.Within how many days must a Co-operative Information Officer respond to an application under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002?
Q3.If a member's application for information is rejected, to whom can they appeal, and within what timeframe under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002?
Q4.Under Section 106 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, who is entitled to request information from the Co-operative Information Officer?