Section 65 in Kerala Cooperative Societies Act, 1969
65. Inquiry by the Registrar.
(1)The Registrar may,-(a)on his own motion; or(b)on an inquiry report of the Vigilance Officer appointed under section 68A; or(c)on a report of the Director of Co-operative Audit appointed under section 63; or(d)on an application by the majority of the members of the committee of the society, or by not less than one third of the quorum for the general body meeting, whichever is less; or(e)on an application by the apex society or financing bank of which such society is a member; or(f)on an application of a society to which the society concerned is affiliated; hold an enquiry by himself or by a person authorized by order in writing, into the constitution, working and financial condition of the society, if he is satisfied that it is necessary so to do.(2)The Registrar or the person authorized by him under sub-section (1) shall, for the purpose of an inquiry under this section, have the following powers, namely:-(a)he shall, at all reasonable times, have free access to the books, accounts, documents, securities, cash and other properties belonging to, or in the custody of the society and may summon any person in possession of or responsible for the custody of any such books, accounts, documents, securities, cash or other properties, to produce the same at any place at the headquarters of the society or at any branch thereof or where there is no working office for the society, at the office of the Registrar or at the office of any of his subordinate officers;(b)he may summon any person who, he has reason to believe, has knowledge of any of the affairs of the society, to appear before him at any place at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof and may examine such person on oath; and(c)(i)he may, notwithstanding any rule or bye-law specifying the period of notice for a general body meeting of the society, himself call a general body meeting or require the President or Secretary of the society to call a general body meeting at such time and place at the headquarters of the society or any branch thereof, to determine such matters as my be directed by him;(ii)any meeting called under sub-clause (i) , shall have all the powers of a general body meeting called under the bye-laws of the society.(3)When an inquiry is made under this section, the Registrar may communicate the result of the inquiry to the financing bank, if any, to the society to which such society is affiliated and to the Circle Co-operative Union.(4)When an inquiry made under this section reveals only minor defects which, in the opinion of the Registrar, can be remedied by the society, he shall communicate the result of the inquiry to the society and the society, if any, to which that society is affiliated. He shall also direct the society or its officers to take such action within the time specified therein to rectify the defects disclosed in such inquiry.(5)The inquiry under this section shall be completed within a period of six months [which period may at the discretion of the Registrar and for reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended from time to time, so however that the aggregate period shall not in anyway, exceed one year.] [Added by Kerala Act No. 8 of 2013.](6)If the Registrar, on completion of the inquiry finds that there is a major defect in the constitution or working or financial condition of the society, he may initiate action in accordance with the provisions of section 32.
