Ind Provident Societies

Table of Contents

Formation

The principal legislation for industrial and provident societies is the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893. The entities are corporate bodies with a separate legal identity. They have a separate legal liability from their members, which is accordingly limited.

Industrial and provident societies are registered by the registrar of friendly societies. The society can be registered for the carrying out of any business or industrial trade specified by its rules. It may be for trade or services. There are special provisions applicable to societies which carry on banking.

A society may not be registered with a name that the registrar considers undesirable. The word limited must be in the name of every society unless the registrar is satisfied that it is established for purposes which are wholly charitable or benevolent.

The application to register must be sent by seven members and the secretary. A printed copy of the rules must be sent to the registrar.

Upon being satisfied that the society has complied with the statutory provisions of the registration the registrar issues an acknowledgment. This is conclusive evidence of the existence of the society. The registration may be suspended or cancelled.

Upon registration the society becomes a body corporate with its own legal identity. If the registrar refuses to register on certain grounds there is an appeal to the High Court.

Registration

Certain returns and documents must be lodged at the register with the register. These include

application to register and form society
amendments,
annual returns,
special resolutions,
change of name,
transfer of engagements,
appointment of receivers,
dissolutions instruments
winding up resolutions and other documents.

The forms of return are prescribed by the registrar. The registry is open to inspection. Copies may be obtained also to returns.

Cooperative Society

A society may not be registered unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the registrar that it is a bona fide in cooperative society. It must be shown that it is intended to be conducted mainly for the benefit or the purpose of improving the living conditions and promoting the well-being of members of particular groups or communities. It must be shown that there are good reasons to register under this legislation as opposed to as a company.

A cooperative society does not include a society which carries on business with an objective making profits mainly for the purpose of dividends, bonus and interest on monies invested or deposited with the society. The society must have at least seven members. It may comprise of other registered societies. There must be at least two.

Rules Requirements

Certain provisions are required in the rules. Other provisions may be adopted to avoid the statutory default applying.

Rules for the protection of the society may be invalid if they impose an unnecessary restraint of trade that is not reasonably necessary for the purpose. The registration of the society does not prove that the rules do not offend the restraint of trade doctrine or competition law.

There are certain mandatory rules which must be provided. They include

applicant’s name and registered office.
Terms of admission of members including conditions for investing funds.
Holding in meetings and voting rights.
Manners of changing rules
Appointment on removal of committee of management
Appointment and removal of managers and officers and the respective.
Powers and remuneration of officers and managers
Determination of interest on shares
Determination whether shares are transferrable and form of transfer and registration.
Provisions regarding withdrawal from membership provision for appropriation of profits
Determination of an investment of capital
Inspection of societies’ books
Use of the society seal.
Investment of capital
Inspection of societies’ books by registrar
Appointment of inspector
Voluntary dissolution
Delivery of demand of corporate rules
Annual audit of accounts
Appointment and removal of auditor
Making of annual returns
Inspection of books and accounts by members
Some other sets of rules have been published.

Rules & Registration

The rules of a registered society are binding as between all members. They are deemed of the same effects as if each person had subscribed to an agreement executed as a deed.

There is no statutory mechanism for amending the rules. The rules themselves usually provide for a provision for their amendment. It appears that the amendments must be broadly in the scope of the original rules such as it would had been in the contemplation of the original incorporators as amendments.

It is not enough to pass the meeting resolution at a general meeting. The amendments must be made in good faith for the benefit of the members as a whole. It must not be aimed at or penalise existing members. It must not be contrary in existing rights, not be inconsistent with the nature of the society itself.

The amendment must be registered with the registry. An application to register as amendment must be made by the secretary and supported by a statutory declaration showing the amendment. The copies of the new rules must be filed.

Name

A register society can change its name by resolution at general meeting. This does not affect the underlying entity. The same principle that apply to the original name, apply to change of name.

The registered society must display the name at set of every office or place where it carries on business. Its name must also appear in official business, bill of exchange promissory notes advertisements, cheques and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed on behalf of the society.

It must be used on business letters, , invoices and receipts and letters of credit in respect of the society. Failure to do the above is an offence subject to summary prosecution.

Registered Office & Seal

Every registered society must have a registered office. Any changes must be registered with the registrar.

Communications and notices are sent to the registered office. Copies of the balance sheet and auditors report must be retained there together with certain statements. The register of members and officers must be retained there. Court summons against the society may be served at the registered office.

Registered society must have a seal and provide for its use.

The rules may make provision for shares, numbers of shares or withdraw ability and transferability. In the case of certain type of societies, there are at statutory limitations on the value of shares which an individual may hold or withdraw. This may be allowed for by the rules. The terms of withdrawal will be specified.

The rules would provide for the issue of shares. This may include provision for instalment costs, payment of balance et cetera.

The rules may provide for classes of shares. There may a preferred a deferred class of share. Shares may have special rights attaching. There need not be share certificates. Sometimes there may be.

The ability of a society to borrow depends on its rules. There is no provision for registration of charges with the registrar.

Appointment of Officers

The rules must provide for the appointment of a committee of management or equivalent officer. Their powers and remuneration must be provided for. There must be a secretary.

Provision may be made for any kind of officers or equivalent as may be desired.

It is not necessary to notify the registrar of appointments. Particulars must be kept on registers kept at the registered office. The annual return must contain details of members of the committee, and certain persons in charge of money.

Committee of Management

The committee of management has functions laid down by statute and rules / byelaws. In certain cases, as offence is committed by the society may be deemed to be committed by members of the management committee.

Where, as will commonly be the case, the control of the business and affairs of the society is vested in the committee of management the members in general meeting cannot exercise that authority. It is likely that same broad principles applicable to boards of directors in the context of companies will apply.

Officers

Officers of societies who have received or are in charge of money may be required by the rules to give security for the due execution of their office. This may be required by way of bonds from an insurer.

Every officer of the society having received charge of money may be required to render account of monies paid and received. If he fails to do so, the society may take action or enforce out of bond or security he may have given.

The mechanism for resignation and removal of an officer must be provided by the rule. An officer may resign.

A register of officers must be kept with the name and address of officers and the dates in which they assumed and ceased office.

The register may be kept in the form of a bound book or other written forms. The registrar or persons authorised by him may inspect any details in the register at all reasonable hours. The register are presented evidence of certain of the information contained in it.

Members

Members have individual rights set out in the rule. They may not be changed by amendment. They include rights to demand a copy of the rule, rights to inspect one’s accounts, rights to inspect the books of account, rights to see the annual return, rights to have certain disputes returns determined under the rule by the nominated persons, who takes the share after death.

Other rights belong to the members collectively. The members collectively may apply to appoint an accountant to examine the society’s books. They may apply to the chief registrar to appoint an inspector to enquire into the company society’s affairs. They may require him to call a special meeting of the society. Collectively they may execute or administer, dissolve or wind up the society.

A member is only liable for the liabilities of the society to the extent that there are monies unpaid on his shares while a member or within one year. His liability to subscribe shares or capitals cannot be increased by amendment of the rules.

A registered society must keep a register of members with their names and addresses, statements of shares held, amounts paid or agreed to be paid in consideration, a statement of other property in the society, loans, deposits held by each member date of entry as a member, date of cessation.