(a)a Co-operative Fishery Society formed by the actual fisherman belonging to the Scheduled Castes/Maimal Community of Cachar/Scheduled Tribes/other Backward Classes and registered under the Assam Co-operative Societies Act, 1949 shall be given option to accept settlement of Fisheries at the highest tender out of not less than 40 per cent quota : Provided that the tender of such a Co-operative Society is within 7½ per cent of the highest tender;
