Section 7 of the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912: Power of Registrar to Decide Certain Questions

Section 7 gives the Registrar authority to decide specified status, residence and classification questions that arise for the purposes of the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912. The section states that the Registrar's decision on those questions is final.

Text of Section 7

When any question arises whether for the purposes of this Act a person is an agriculturist or a non-agriculturist, or whether any person is a resident in a town or village or group of villages, or whether two or more villages shall be considered to form a group, or whether any person belongs to any particular tribe, class, caste or occupation, the question shall be decided by the Registrar, whose decision shall be final.

What Section 7 Means

The provision identifies a limited set of factual or classification questions that the Registrar may determine when they arise under the Act. These include whether a person is an agriculturist or non-agriculturist, whether a person is resident in a specified town, village or group of villages, whether villages are to be treated as a group, and whether a person belongs to a particular tribe, class, caste or occupation.

The expression "for the purposes of this Act" is important. Section 7 is directed to questions that arise in applying the 1912 Act. Its subject matter is connected particularly with the membership and registration framework in the surrounding provisions, including Section 6.

Meaning of "Registrar"

Under Section 2 of the Act, "Registrar" means a person appointed to perform the duties of a Registrar of Co-operative Societies under the Act. Section 3 provides for appointment of the Registrar and permits appointment of persons to assist the Registrar, subject to the statutory framework.

Questions the Registrar Can Decide Under Section 7

For purposes of the 1912 Act, the Registrar may decide questions concerning: agriculturist or non-agriculturist status; residence in a town, village or group of villages; whether two or more villages form a group; and membership of a particular tribe, class, caste or occupation.

Effect of the Words "Decision Shall Be Final"

Section 7 expressly declares the Registrar's decision on the listed questions to be final under the statutory scheme. The provision should nevertheless be read together with applicable constitutional and administrative-law principles and with any later State or Union Territory legislation governing the society concerned.

Territorial Application and Current Law

Important: Co-operative societies are principally governed today by State or Union Territory legislation, and the 1912 Act has been repealed or replaced in its application in various jurisdictions. Before relying on Section 7, verify the law currently applicable to the State or Union Territory and to the society concerned. For the central text of the 1912 Act, consult the official India Code source linked on this page.

Related Provisions

Section 6 - Conditions of registration sets out conditions relevant to registration, while Section 8 - Application for registration deals with the application process. These provisions provide useful statutory context for Section 7.

Official Legal Source

Read the official text of the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 on India Code.

Legal information should be checked against the law currently applicable in the relevant jurisdiction.