Section 12 in The West Bengal Co-Operative Societies Act, 1983
12. Bar to registration. -
(1)No co-operative society the by-laws of which permit admission as its member of a person carrying on transaction or business of the same kind or nature as carried on by it shall be registered under this Act.(2)In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1),-(a)no co-operative credit society shall be registered if the by-laws thereof do not specifically debar admission as its member of a person who is a money-lender by profession,(b)no consumers' co-operative society shall be registered if the bylaws thereof do not specifically debar admission as its member of a person who is a grocer by profession, and(c)no industrial co-operative society shall be registered if the bylaws thereof do not specifically debar admission as its member of a person who is carrying on, on his own account, or has any interest in, any business of the kind carried on by it:Provided that the registration of an industrial co-operative society shall not be refused merely on the ground that its by-laws provide for admission as its member of a person who is an ordinary artisan or a small entrepreneur carrying on business of the same kind carried by it.(3)No co-operative society established or organised for the promotion of the economic interests of any particular community, class or group of people exclusively through any specific activity shall be registered if the by-laws thereof permit admission as its members of persons other than those to be directly benefited by such activity.(4)No co-operative society established by tribals or farmers or females exclusively for their benefit shall admit as its member a person who is not a tribal or farmer or female, as the case may be.
