भाग पाच-अ, असा. क्रमांक ४७, L. A. BILL No. LIV OF 2026 A Bill amend the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 Tuesday, 7th July 2026.

RNI No. MAHBIL /2009/40123

महाराष्ट्र शासन राजपत्र

असाधाराण भाग पाच-अ

वर्ष १२, अंक २३(३)] मंगळवारा, जुलै ७, २०२६/आर्षाढ १६, शाके १९४८ [पृष्ठे ३, किंकंमत : रुपये ३६.००

असाधाराण क्रमांक ४७

प्राकिंधाकृत प्राकाशान

महाराष्ट्र किंवधानसभाेत व महाराष्ट्र किंवधानपरिरार्षदेत सादेरा केलैेलैी किंवधाेयेके (इंग्रजी अनुवादे).

MAHARASHTRA LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT

The following Bill was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the 7th July, 2026 is published under Rule 117 of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rules :—

L. A. BILL No. LIV OF 2026.

A BILL

further to amend the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960.

Mah. XXIV of 1961.

WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, for the purposes hereinafter appearing; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be called the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (Second Amendment) Act, 2026.

Mah. XXIV of 1961.

2. In section 23 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (hereinafter referred to as "the principal Act"), after sub-section (1) the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

Amendment of section 23 of Mah. XXIV of 1961.

(1)

भाग पाच-अ-४७–१२ महाराष्ट्र शासन राजपत्र असाधाराण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै ७, २०२६/आर्षाढ १६, शाके १९४८ "Provided that, no primary agricultural credit co-operative society shall refuse admission to membership to any person who is a resident in area of operation of such society and has minimum 10R agricultural land and not having membership of any other primary agricultural credit co-operative society functioning in the area of operation of such society.".

3. In section 144-11A of the principal Act, after sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

Amendment of section 144-11A of Mah. XXIV of 1961.

"Provided that, non-agricultural co-operative credit society may disburse gold loan to any person other than share holder member by making him a nominal member of the society.".

Section 23 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (Mah. XXIV of 1961) provides that no society shall without sufficient cause, refuse admission to membership to any person duly qualified therefor under the provisions of this Act and its by-laws.

2. The primary object of the primary agricultural credit co-operative societies is to provide the agricultural loan to the farmers in the area of its operation. Such societies are also engaged in providing agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, etc., Majority of the farmers in the State avail agriculture loan from such societies. In certain cases, it is noticed that, the eligible persons residing within the area of operation of such societies though duly qualified to be member are denied admission to membership of such societies. This often leads to depriving them of access to agricultural loan and other services provided by such societies.

To ensure membership to such eligible persons who are duly qualified under the provisions of this Act and in order to strengthen the co-operative credit structure at the grass-root level, the Government considers it expedient to provide for mandatory admission to membership of such society. Therefore, section 23 of the said Act is proposed to be amended to provide for mandatory admission to membership in such society of any person who resides within its area of operation, possesses not less than 10R of agricultural land and is not a member of any other such Society functioning in the same area of operation.

3. Section 144-11A along with section 44 of the said Act provides that no non-agricultural co-operative credit society shall make a loan to any person other than a member. Due to these restrictions, such societies are unable to extend any loan to persons who are not members thereof.

The gold loan is a secured loan and its demand is increasing due to quick disbursement to the borrower. Considering growing demand for gold loan and its secured nature and to enhance access to institutional credit, the Government considers it expedient to amend the said section 144-11A, suitably, to enable the non-agricultural co-operative credit societies to disburse gold loan also to nominal members.

4. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.

Mumbai, BABASAHEB PATIL,

Dated the 6th July, 2026. Minister for Co-operation.

Vidhan Bhavan : JITENDRA BHOLE,

Mumbai,

Secretary-1,

Dated the 7th July, 2026. Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR, SMT. MANISHA KUMBHAR, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, SMT. MANISHA KUMBHAR.