Order regarding the exemption of 64 newly registered Fishermen Cooperative Societies from the Election Fund deposit requirement for conducting elections (Gazette Vol. LXII No. 19).

VOL. LXII No.19 MONDAY 8th JUNE, 2026/ 18th JYAISTHA, 1948 (SAKA)

ADMINISTRATION OF THE

UNION TERRITORY OF LAKSHADWEEP

DEPARTMENT OF COOPERATION

KAVARATTI- 682555

F.No.41/1/2026-Coop/229 Date:03/06/2026

ORDER

Whereas, during the financial year 2025-26, Sixty Four (64) Fishermen Cooperative Societ- ies have been registered in different Islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, as detailed in Annexure-I;

And whereas, as per the provisions of the Lakshadweep Co-operative Societies Regulation, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as "the Regulation"), every general election of the members of the Managing Committee/ Board of Directors and election of the office bearers of a society shall be con- ducted in accordance with the prescribed procedure;

And whereas, the procedure for conducting such elections has been prescribed under Rule 47 of the Lakshadweep Co-operative Societies Rules, 2023;

And whereas, the process of conducting elections is elaborate and time consuming, and every society is required to deposit in advance the estimated expenditure towards the Election Fund as may be determined by the Co-operative Election Authority;

And whereas, the aforesaid societies, being newly registered, are not in a position to bear the expenditure towards the Election Fund due to lack of sufficient working capital;

And whereas, in the absence of a duly elected Managing Committee/ Board of Directors, the societies are unable to function effectively, as most of the day-to-day administrative and financial powers vest with the Managing Committee/ Board of Directors;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 133 of the Lakshadweep Co-oper- ative Societies Regulation, 2022, the Administrator, Union Territory of Lakshadweep hereby exempts the said Sixty Four (64) Fishermen Cooperative Societies, registered during the financial year 2025-26, from the provisions of;

• clause (a) of sub-section (4) of Section 65; and

• sub -sections (7), (8) and (9) of Section 68 of the Regulation, and the corresponding provisions of the Lakshadweep Co-operative Societies Rules, 2023, subject to the following conditions:

1. The societies shall convene a General Body Meeting of all members, in accordance with the provisions of their respective bye-laws, within a period of one month from the date of issue of this Order, for conducting elections to the Managing Committee/ Board of Directors, and shall complete the entire election process, including election of office bearers as per Bye-laws of the Society.

2. Each society shall furnish to the Department of Cooperation the list of members of the Managing Committee/Board of Directors elected in the General Body Meeting, immediately after completion of the election process.

3. This exemption shall be granted as a one-time measure only.

And whereas, the grant of such exemption does not adversely affect the interests of the societies or their members, the requirement of providing an opportunity of being heard is hereby dispensed with.

By order of the Hon'ble Administrator, Union Territory of Lakshadweep

Sd/- Dr. A.S. Sivakumar, IAS Secretary Cooperation3 THE LAKSHADWEEP GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY 4 THE LAKSHADWEEP GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY Published by the Directorate of Printing & Stationery, Kavaratti, on behalf of the Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadweep LGP.Kvt.N-125/06-26/10