GOVERNMENT OF KERALA
ORDER
WHEREAS, under sub-section (1) of section 29 of the Kerala Co-
operative Societies Act, 1969 (Act 21 of 1969), a general body meeting
of the society shall be held within a period of six months of the close of
the financial year;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (3) of section 29 of the said
Co-operation (B) Department
G.O.(P)No.176/2025/Co op Dated,Thiruvananthapuram, 27st December, 2025
12th Dhanu, 1201
©
േകരള സർകാർ
Government of Kerala
2025
േകരള ഗസറ്
KERALA GAZETTE
അസാധാരണം
EXTRAORDINARY
ആധികാരികമായി ്പസിദെപടുതുനത
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
Regn.No. KERBIL/2012/45073
dated 05-09-2012 with RNI
Reg No.KL/TV(N)/634/2021-2023
വാല്ം 14
Vol. XIV
തിരുവനനപുരം,
ശനി
Thiruvananthapuram,
Saturday
2025 ഡിസംബർ 27
27th December 2025
1201 ധനു 12
12th Dhanu 1201
1947 െപൗഷം 6
6th Pousha 1947
നമർ
No.
4363
S. R. O. No. 1420/2025
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Act, where the board of a co-operative society fails to convene the
annual general meeting within the period specified in sub-section (1),
the Registrar or the person authorized by him in this behalf shall be
competent to convene such annual general meeting within a period of
ninety days from the date of expiry of the period mentioned in sub-
section (1) and the expenditure incurred on such meeting shall be borne
by the co-operative society;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (4) of section 29 of the said
Act, members of the Board who, in the opinion of the Registrar, were
responsible for not convening the annual general meeting within the
stipulated period shall be disqualified for one term for being elected as
committee members and to continue as members of a society in
addition to being liable for any other provision under this Act;
AND WHEREAS, under sub–section (4) of section 63 of the said
Act, it shall be the duty of the managing committee cause to audit the
accounts of every society at least once in every year and it is provided
that the accounts of every society shall be audited within six months of
the close of the financial year to which such accounts relate and
provided further that in the case of those societies which are liable to
file income tax returns, financial statements for that purpose shall be
duly certified by the Auditor, within three months from the end of the
financial year;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (8) of section 63 of the said
Act, the minimum qualification and experience of auditors for auditing
the accounts of co-operative society may be such, as may be prescribed;
AND WHEREAS, under sub - section (9) of section 63 of the said
Act, every co-operative society shall cause to be audited by a team of
auditors appointed by the Director of Co-operative Audit in accordance
with the scheme approved and notified by the State Government. The
composition, structure of team, mode of conducting audit, mode of
processing and preparing audit report shall be included in the scheme
approved by the State Government.
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (10) of section 63 of the said
Act, the financial accounts of all apex societies and all urban co-
operative banks shall be audited by auditing firms, from among the
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panel approved by the Director of Co-operative Audit and the
administrative matters and related accounts of assisted apex societies
shall be audited by the departmental auditors and submit the audit
reports to the Director of Co- operative Audit. If the audit disclose any
misappropriation or fraud or defalcation of money or property or assets
of the society, audit team shall prepare a special report and forward the
same to the Director of Co- operative Audit and the Registrar. The
Registrar himself, or the Director of Co-operative Audit in consultation
with the Registrar, shall forward the special report to the Vigilance
Officer appointed under section 68A for detailed inquiry;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (11) of section 63 of the said
Act, the audit report of the accounts of an apex co-operative society
which includes the report on administrative matters, shall be laid by the
Government before the Legislative Assembly, in the manner
prescribed;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (12) of section 63 of the said
Act, it is the responsibility of the managing committee to convene
general body meeting or special general body meeting in order to
appoint auditors or auditing firms within the stipulated time from
among the panel approved by Director of Co-operative Audit, failing
which, the members of the managing committee shall cease to hold
their office and in such cases to avoid administrative stalemate, the
Registrar may suo motu or on application from the Director of Co-
operative Audit or from any person authorized in this behalf, appoint an
administrator or an administrative committee consisting of not more
than three persons, who shall be from among the members of the
society, one among them as convener, to manage the affairs of the
society, for a period not exceeding six months as may be specified in
the order and it is provided that such administrator or administrative
committee shall arrange for the constitution of a new committee or for
entering upon office of the new committee, as the case may be;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (4) of section 64 of the said
Act, the financial statements and other statutory statements as required
by auditors shall be prepared by the Chief Executive of the society
within one month from the date of close of the financial year and
submit it before managing committee and the fact shall be reported to
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the Director of Co-operative Audit or to the persons authorized by him
in this behalf;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (4A) of section 64 of the said
Act, it shall be the duty of the managing committee of every society to
ensure the accuracy of financial and other statutory statements and it is
the responsibility of the Managing Committee to submit the above
statements for audit within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the
above statements before the auditor and lapse on the part of managing
committee in this regard will be considered as a disqualification to hold
office and they shall cease to be a member of the committee as may be
prescribed and in such cases to avoid administrative stalemate, the
Registrar may suo motu or on application from the Director of Co-
operative Audit or by any person authorized in this behalf, appoint an
administrator or an administrative committee consisting of not more
than three persons, who shall be from among the members of the
society, one among them as convener, to manage the affairs of the
society, for a period not exceeding six months as may be specified in
the order and it is provided that such administrator or administrative
committee shall arrange for the constitution of a new committee or for
entering upon office of the new committee as the case may be;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (4B) of section 64 of the said
Act, within forty five days from the date of receipt of the audit report,
the Director of Co-operative Audit shall issue an audit certificate to the
concerned society with a copy of audit memorandum as may be
prescribed;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (5) of section 64 of the said
Act, the auditor or team of auditors or auditing firms appointed as per
section 63 shall complete the audit within ninety days from the date of
receipt of the statements and submit audit report to the Director of Co-
operative Audit or to the persons authorized by him in this behalf;
AND WHEREAS, under sub-section (1) of section 66C of the said
Act every Co-operative Society shall file returns, within six months of
the closure of every financial year before the Registrar containing the
following particulars, namely:-
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(a)
a comprehensive annual report of its activities;
(b)
its audited statements of accounts;
(c)
plan for surplus disposal as approved by the general body of
the Co- operative society;
(d)
list of amendments to the bye-laws of the Co-operative
society, if any;
(e)
declaration regarding date of holding of its general body
meeting and conduct of elections when due;
(f)
rectification reports approved by the Committee on audit
report and the resolution of the General Body of the society;
and
(g)
any other information required by the Registrar in
pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act or rules;
AND WHEREAS, the Registrar of Co-operative Societies has also
reported that the Co operative auditors were part of the local body
election process, it was not possible to complete the audit and convene
the general body meeting on time. It is also reported that the Board of
Directors were responsible for not convening the annual general
meeting within the stipulated period shall be disqualified for one term
for being elected as committee members and to continue as members of
a society in addition to being liable for any other provision under this
Act;
AND WHEREAS, it is mandatory for the societies to convene
the meeting of annual general body in order to appoint auditors or
auditing firms within the stipulated time from among the panel approved
by the Director of Co-operative Audit, failing which, the members of the
managing committee shall cease to hold their office, and in the above
circumstances the societies are not in a position to adhere with the
provisions regarding appointment of auditors and convening of general
5
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body meetings which affect the existence of elected Board of Directors
upon which administration of the societies are vested with, and that the
absence of Boards in societies will affect the day-to-day functioning of
the societies which ultimately affects the interest of the general public;
AND WHEREAS, the Registrar of Co-operative Societies has
recommended to the Government to extent the exemption already
granted to the Co-operative Societies from the provision of sub-
sections (1), (3) and (4) of section 29, sub sections (4), (8), (9) (10),
(11) and (12) of section 63, sub-sections (4), (4A), (4B) and (5) of
section 64 and sub- section (1) of section 66C of the Kerala Co-
operative Societies Act, 1969(Act 21 of 1969) for a period of three
months from 1st October, 2025 to 31st December, 2025 in pursuance of
notification issued under G.O.(P)No.130/2025/Co op dated 29th
September, 2025 and published as S.R.O. No.1142/2025 in the
Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No.3488 dated 29t h September, 2025 for a
further period of three months from 1st January, 2026 to 31st March,
2026;
AND WHEREAS, the Government have considered the matter in
detail and are satisfied that it is necessary in public interest to grant
exemption for a further period of three months from 1st January, 2026
to 31st March, 2026;
Now, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by section
101 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969, the Government of
Kerala hereby exempt all co-operative societies from the provisions of
sub- sections (1), (3) and (4) of section 29 and sub sections (4), (8),
(9), (10), (11) and (12) of section 63 and sub-sections (4), (4A), (4B)
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and (5) of section 64 and sub-section (1) of section 66C of the Kerala
Co- Operative Societies Act, 1969 (Act 21 of 1969) for a further period
of three months from 1st January, 2026 to 31st March, 2026.
By order of the Governor,
DR.VEENA N.MADHAVAN
SPECIAL SECRETARY
Explanatory Note
(This does not form part of the order, but is intended to indicate its
general purport.)
As per sub-section (1) of section 29 of the Kerala Co-Operative
Societies Act, 1969(Act 21 of 1969) a general body meeting of the
society shall be held within a period of six months of the close of the
financial year and under sub-section (4) of section 29 of the said Act
members of the Board who, in the opinion of the Registrar, were
responsible for not convening the annual general meeting within the
stipulated period shall be disqualified for one term for being elected as
committee members and to continue as members of a society in
addition to being liable for any other provisions under this Act and it is
provided that the accounts of every society shall be audited within six
months of the close of the financial year to which such accounts relate
and under sub-section(9) of section 63 of the said Act, every co-
operative society shall cause to be audited by a team of auditors
appointed by the Director of Co-operative Audit in accordance with the
scheme approved and notified by the State Government. The
composition, structure of team, mode of conducting audit, mode of
processing and preparing audit report shall be included in the scheme
approved by the State Government and under sub-section(12) of
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section 63 of the said Act as amended by the said Amendment Act, it is
the responsibility of the managing committee to convene general body
meeting or special general body meeting in order to appoint auditors or
auditing firms within the stipulated time from among the panel
approved by the Director of Co operative Audit, failing which, the
members of the managing committee shall cease to hold their office as
may be prescribed.
The Registrar of Co-operative Societies has also reported that the
Co operative auditors were part of the local body election process, it
was not possible to complete the audit and convene the general body
meeting on time. It is also reported that the Board of Directors were
responsible for not convening the annual general meeting within the
stipulated period shall be disqualified for one term for being elected as
committee members and to continue as members of a society in
addition to being liable for any other provision under this Act. The
Registrar of Co- operative Societies has further reported that it is
mandatory for the societies to convene the meeting of annual general
body to appoint auditors or auditing firms within the stipulated time
from among the panel approved by the Director of Co-operative Audit,
failing which, the members of the managing committee shall cease to
hold their office, and in the above circumstances the societies are not in
a position to adhere with the provisions regarding appointment of
auditors and convening of general body meetings which affect the
existence of elected Board of Directors upon which administration of
the societies are vested with, and that the absence of Board of Directors
in societies will affect the day-to- day functioning of the societies
which ultimately affects the interest of the general public. In the above
circumstances, the Registrar of Co- operative Societies has
recommended to the Government to extend the exemption already
granted to the Co-operative societies from the provisions of sub-
sections (1), (3) and (4) of section 29, sub-sections (4),
(8), (9), (10), (11) and (12) of section 63, sub-sections (4), (4A), (4B) and
(5) of section 64 and sub-section (1) of section 66C of the Kerala Co-
Operative Societies Act, 1969 (Act 21 of 1969) for a period of three
months from 1st October, 2025 to 31st December, 2025 in pursuance of
notification issued under G.O(P)No.130/2025/Co op dated 29th
September, 2025 and published as S.R.O No.1142/2025 in the Kerala
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Gazette Extraordinary No.3488 dated 29th September, 2025 for a
further period of three months from 1st January, 2026 to 31st March,
2026.
The Government have considered the matter in detail and are
satisfied that it is necessary in public interest to exempt all Co-
operative Societies from the provisions of sub-sections (1), (3) and (4)
of section 29 and sub sections (4), (8),(9), (10), (11) and (12) of
section 63, sub-
sections (4), (4A), (4B) and (5) of section 64 and sub-section (1) of
section 66C of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 for a
further period of three months from 1st January, 2026 to 31st March,
2026.
The order is intended to achieve the above object.
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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PUBLISHED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRESSES
AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 2025
