Housing Society Its Election

Housing society managing committee elections in Maharashtra (governed under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 and the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Rules, 1961) follow specific rules and guidelines. Below is a comprehensive overview based on the number of members and related governance parameters:

Election Procedure Based on Membership Size

1. Up to 50 Members

• Election can be conducted by the society itself.

• No need to approach the State Cooperative Election Authority (SCEA).

• Election should be supervised by a Returning Officer appointed by the society in a General Body Meeting.

• The entire process must be transparent and documented.

2. 51 to 250 Members

• The election is conducted under the supervision of the SCEA.

• The society must apply for election at least 6 months before the expiry of the term of the existing committee.

• A certified Returning Officer from the SCEA panel conducts the election.

3. More than 250 Members

• Conducted by the SCEA only.

• A public notice is issued.

• Nomination, scrutiny, withdrawal, and voting are conducted as per a fixed schedule.

Do's and Don'ts in Committee Elections

Do’s:

• Maintain updated member register and voter list.

• Conduct election before the term ends (usually 5 years).

• Follow due procedure for nominations and scrutiny.

• Ensure compliance with SCEA directions and timelines.

Don’ts:

• Don’t allow defaulters or ineligible members to contest or vote.

• Don’t use society funds or premises for election campaigning.

• Don’t manipulate voter lists or interfere in Returning Officer's duties.

Failure or Delay in Conducting Elections

• If elections are not conducted before the term ends, the committee is considered deemed dissolved.

• An Administrator is appointed by the Registrar.

• Penalties and disqualification may apply to responsible committee members.

Quorum for Committee Meeting

• General quorum: As per Bye Law No. 114

• If reserved category posts (SC/ST/OBC/Women) are vacant:

  • Quorum is not calculated based on total sanctioned strength, but on filled posts.

    154B-22. Till the time the Members of reserved categories are not available or elected to fill the reserved seats as provided in sections 154B20 and 154B-21, such reserved seats shall not be counted for strength of managing Committee for composition of quorum for conducting its meetings.

  • Posts must be filled as early as possible to ensure proper representation.

Defaulter Criteria

• A member is a defaulter if dues to the society (maintenance, sinking fund, etc.) are unpaid for more than 3 months.

• Defaulters cannot:

  • Contest elections

  • Vote

  • Be nominated to the committee

Three Children Rule

• If a member has more than 2 children after 07.09.2001, they are disqualified from:

  • Contesting or being elected to the committee.

  • Holding any position in the society's management.

Member Doing Estate Agency Work

• If a committee member is engaged in real estate business in the society, they are disqualified.

• Conflict of interest applies (per Model Bye-laws).

• Member can be removed through a complaint to the Registrar.

When Is Committee Deemed Dissolved?

• If not reconstituted after 5 years.

• If the election is not held in time.

• If a no-confidence motion is passed.

• If the committee resigns or is removed by the Registrar.

Filing Complaint Regarding Elections

• File a complaint to the District Cooperative Registrar or SCEA.

• Grounds: Voter list issues, nomination manipulation, procedural violations.

• Submit documentary evidence, follow proper format.

• Can be escalated to Cooperative Court if not resolved.

Filling Up Vacant Posts

• If less than 1/3rd of seats are vacant: committee can fill by co-option.

• If more than 1/3rd seats are vacant: election is mandatory.

Co-opting Members

• Co-option allowed only to fill minority category seats (Women, SC, ST, OBC) if not filled through election.

• Co-opted members have no voting rights in decisions relating to financial matters or elections.

• Must be ratified in the General Body Meeting.
  

Bye-law No. 114 – Strength of the Managing Committee

This Bye-law outlines the composition of the Managing Committee based on the total number of members in the society:

Quorum for the Meeting will be simple majority of the existing Committee Memners.

• 1 seat for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes

• 1 seat for Other Backward Classes (OBC)

• 1 seat for Women (at least 1/3rd of the total seats)

   Important: These reserved seats are filled through election. If no one from the reserved category stands, co-option is permitted under Bye-law 128.

Powers and Functions of the Managing Committee

The duties, responsibilities, and powers of the Managing Committee. Key points include:

Key Responsibilities:

1. To approve membership applications.

2. To ensure timely maintenance collection.

3. To authorize repairs, maintenance, and development works.

4. To handle disciplinary actions against defaulting members.

5. To ensure statutory compliances (audit, AGM, filing returns).

6. To appoint sub-committees, e.g., for repairs or cultural activities.

7. To monitor finances, pass budgets, and maintain accounts.

8. To appoint staff, including manager, watchmen, etc.

   Committee cannot take decisions that are required to be taken in General Body Meetings (e.g., redevelopment, major capital expenses).

Other Key Bye-laws Related to Managing Committee Elections

Subject: Election of the Managing Committee for the Term 2025–2026 to 2029–2030

All members are hereby informed that, as per the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act and the Election Rules 2014, the election for the Managing Committee of our Co-operative Housing Society is being organized for the term 2025–2026 to 2029–2030.

Members are requested to kindly take note of the following important instructions regarding the election:

1. Publication of Provisional Voter List
   The provisional list of members has been prepared based on society records and has been published.
   If any corrections are required in your name, address, or other details in the list, please submit a written application with the necessary documentary proof to the Secretary of the society within 10 days.

2. Voting and Candidature Rights Reserved for First-Named Members
   Only those members whose name appears first on the share certificate of a flat are eligible to vote and contest the election.

3. Rights of Second-Named Members
   If the second-named member on the share certificate wishes to vote or contest, the first-named member must submit Form 10A along with a copy of the share certificate authorizing them.

4. Eligibility to Contest
   Only those members whose names appear in the final voter list will be eligible to file nomination forms for contesting the election.

5. Disqualification Due to More Than Two Children (Post September 2001)
   Any member having more than two children born after September 2001 is not eligible to contest the election.
   The revised provision is as follows:
   As per Section 73CA(1)(vii) of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, a person having more than two children is disqualified. However, under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (Second Amendment) Act, 2001, if the number of children did not increase after the commencement date of this amendment, such a person shall not be disqualified. Furthermore, if twins or multiple children were born in a single delivery within one year of the amendment's commencement date, they shall not be considered for disqualification purposes.

6. Disqualification of Members – Section 154B-23
   Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Act or Rules, a person shall be disqualified from being appointed, nominated, elected, or co-opted as a committee member for any of the following reasons:

   • (i) If the person is a defaulter of any co-operative society.

   • (ii) If the person is engaged in the business of renting, sub-letting, or selling flats in the housing society where they are a member.

   • (iii) If the person has been held liable under Section 79, 88, 154B-8(2), or 154B-27, or has been ordered to bear inquiry costs under Section 85.

   • (iv) If the person has been declared disqualified under any other provisions of the Act or Rules.

   • (v) If the person is disqualified under Section 73CA(1)(f)(vii), (viii), or (ix).

   Further Clarifications:

   • (2) A member who has incurred disqualification under sub-section (1) shall cease to be a member of the committee and his/her post shall be deemed vacant immediately.

   • (3) A person disqualified under clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) above shall not be eligible for reappointment or re-election for five years from the date of disqualification.

   • (4) Any other disqualified member, unless otherwise provided in the Act, shall become eligible again after the disqualification ceases.

All members are requested to strictly adhere to the above terms and conditions throughout the election process.

— Secretary
(Name of the Society)
(Date)

सदस्यांना सूचना
संदर्भ: सन २०२५–२०२६ ते २०२९–२०३० या कालावधीसाठी व्यवस्थापन समितीच्या निवडणुकीबाबत

सर्व सभासदांना कळविण्यात येते की, महाराष्ट्र सहकारी संस्था कायदा व निवडणूक नियमावली २०१४ नुसार, आमच्या गृहनिर्माण सहकारी संस्थेच्या व्यवस्थापन समितीची निवडणूक सन २०२५–२०२६ ते २०२९–२०३० या कालावधीसाठी आयोजित करण्यात येत आहे.

या निवडणुकीच्या अनुषंगाने खालील महत्त्वाच्या सूचना कृपया लक्षात घ्याव्यात:

1. सभासदांची प्राथमिक यादी प्रसिद्ध
   संस्थेच्या अभिलेखावर आधारित प्राथमिक मतदार यादी तयार करून ती जाहीर करण्यात आलेली आहे.
   जर सदर यादीतील आपले नाव, पत्ता किंवा इतर कोणतीही माहिती चुकीची असेल किंवा बदल आवश्यक असेल, तर आवश्यक पुराव्यांसह लेखी अर्ज संस्थेचे सचिव यांच्याकडे १० दिवसांच्या आत सादर करावा.

2. फक्त प्रथम नावधारकास मतदान व निवडणूक लढविण्याचा अधिकार
   ज्यांचे नाव फ्लॅटच्या शेअर प्रमाणपत्रावर प्रथम नावधारक म्हणून आहे, फक्त त्यांना मतदान व निवडणुकीत भाग घेण्याचा अधिकार आहे.

3. द्वितीय नावधारकास सहभागासाठी 10A नमुन्याची आवश्यकता
   जर शेअर प्रमाणपत्रावर दुसऱ्या क्रमांकावर नाव असलेला सदस्य मतदान किंवा निवडणुकीत भाग घेऊ इच्छित असेल, तर प्रथम नावधारकाने नमुना 10A भरून त्यासोबत शेअर प्रमाणपत्राची प्रत जोडून अर्ज सादर करावा.

4. नाव अंतिम यादीत असल्यासच उमेदवारी अर्ज सादर करता येईल
   निवडणुकीसाठी केवळ अंतिम मतदार यादीत नाव असलेल्या सभासदांनाच उमेदवारी अर्ज सादर करण्याचा अधिकार आहे.

5. सप्टेंबर २००१ नंतर दोनहून अधिक अपत्ये असलेले सदस्य अपात्र
   जर कोणत्याही सभासदास सप्टेंबर २००१ नंतर दोनपेक्षा अधिक मुले/अपत्ये असतील, तर असे सदस्य निवडणुकीस अपात्र ठरतील.
   सुधारित तरतूद पुढीलप्रमाणे आहे:
   महाराष्ट्र सहकारी संस्था अधिनियम १९६० च्या कलम ७३कअ(१)(सात) नुसार दोनपेक्षा अधिक अपत्ये असलेल्या व्यक्तीला अपात्र ठरविण्यात येते. तथापि, महाराष्ट्र सहकारी संस्था (दुसरी सुधारणा) अधिनियम, २००१ लागू झाल्यानंतर जर मुलांची संख्या वाढलेली नसेल, तर तो सभासद अपात्र ठरणार नाही.
   याशिवाय, सुधारणेच्या अंमलबजावणीच्या तारखेपासून एका वर्षाच्या आत एका प्रसूतीमध्ये जन्मलेली एक किंवा अधिक मुले अपात्रतेसाठी विचारात घेतली जाणार नाहीत.

6. सभासद अपात्रता – कलम १५४ब-२३
   कायद्याच्या किंवा नियमांच्या इतर तरतुदींव्यतिरिक्त खालील कारणांमुळे कोणतीही व्यक्ती समितीवर नियुक्त, नामनिर्देशित, निवडून किंवा सहनियुक्त होण्यास पात्र ठरणार नाही:

   • (i) जर ती व्यक्ती कोणत्याही सहकारी संस्थेची थकबाकीदार असेल;

   • (ii) जर ती व्यक्ती संस्थेतील सदनिका भाड्याने देणे, उपभाडेपट्टी करणे किंवा विक्री करण्याचा व्यवसाय करत असेल;

   • (iii) जर ती व्यक्ती कलम ७९, ८८, १५४ब-८(२) किंवा १५४ब-२७ अंतर्गत जबाबदार ठरविण्यात आलेली असेल, किंवा कलम ८५ नुसार चौकशीचा खर्च भरण्याची जबाबदारी तिच्यावर टाकण्यात आलेली असेल;

   • (iv) जर तिला या कायद्यानुसार किंवा नियमांनुसार अपात्र ठरविण्यात आले असेल;

   • (v) जर ती व्यक्ती कलम ७३सीअ(१)(f) मधील उपकलम (vii), (viii) किंवा (ix) नुसार अपात्र असेल.

   इतर संबंधित तरतुदी:

   • (२) उपकलम (१) अंतर्गत अपात्र ठरलेला कोणताही सभासद समितीचा सदस्य मानला जाणार नाही आणि त्याचे पद तात्काळ रिक्त झाल्याचे मानले जाईल.

   • (३) उपकलम (१) मधील (ii), (iii), (iv) किंवा (v) अन्वये अपात्र ठरलेला सदस्य पुढील पाच वर्षांच्या कालावधीसाठी समितीवर पुन्हा निवडून, सहनियुक्त किंवा नामनिर्देशित होण्यास पात्र ठरणार नाही.

   • (४) उपकलम (३) व्यतिरिक्त अन्य कारणाने अपात्र ठरलेला सभासद, जर कायद्यात अन्यथा नमूद केले नसल्यास, अपात्रता संपल्यानंतर पुन्हा निवडणूक, सहनियुक्ती किंवा नामनिर्देशनासाठी पात्र ठरतो.

वरील सर्व अटी व शर्ती निवडणूक प्रक्रियेमध्ये काटेकोरपणे पाळण्यात येतील. याची सर्व सभासदांनी नोंद घ्यावी.

— सचिव
(संस्थेचे नाव)