LAWS OF BRUNEI
CHAPTER 84
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
3 of 1975
1984 Ed. Cap. 84
REVISED EDITION 1984

LAWS OF BRUNEI
Co-operative Societies
B.L.R.O. 1/1984p. 1 CAP. 84][1984 Ed.
LAWS OF BRUNEI
REVISED EDITION 1984
CHAPTER 84
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTION
Section
PART I
PRELIMINARY
1.Short title.
2.Interpretation.
PART II
REGISTRATION
3.Appointment of Registrar and Assistant Registrars.
4.Societies which may be registered.
5.Conditions of registration.
6.Application for registration.
7.Registration.
8.Societies to be bodies corporate.

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9.Evidence of registration.
PART III
DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF SOCIETIES
10.Amendment of the by-laws of a registered society.
11.Address of society.
12.Copy of Act, rules, by-laws etc. to be open to inspection.
13.Disposal of produce to or through a registered society.
14.Creation of charges in favour of registered societies.
15.Charge and set-off in respect of shares or interests of members.
16.Shares or interest not liable to attachment or sale.
17.Transfer of interest on death of member.
18.Deposits by or on behalf of minors.
19.Register of members.
20.Proof of entries in books of society.
PART IV
RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF MEMBERS
21.Qualification for membership.
22.Members not to exercise rights till due payment made.
23.Restriction of membership in society.
24.Votes of members.
25.Contracts with society of members who are minors.
26.No individual to hold more than one-fifth of share capital of any
society.

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27.Restrictions on transfer or charge of share or interest.
28.Liability of past member and estate of deceased for debts of society.
PART V
PROPERTY AND FUNDS OF REGISTERED
SOCIETIES
29.Loans made by a registered society.
30.Deposits and loans received by a registered society.
31.Restrictions on other transaction with non-members.
32.Investment of funds.
33.Disposal of profits.
PART VI
AUDIT, INSPECTION AND INQUIRY
34.Audit.
35.Power of Registrar to inspect societies’ books etc.
36.Inquiry and inspection.
PART VII
DISSOLUTION
37.Dissolution.
38.Cancellation of registration of a society due to lack of membership.
39.Effect of cancellation of registration.
40.Liquidation after cancellation of registration of society.
41.Liquidator’s powers.

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42.Power of Registrar to control liquidation.
43.Enforcing an order.
44.Limitation of the jurisdiction of the court.
45.Closure of liquidation.
PART VIII
SURCHARGE AND ATTACHMENT
46.Power of Registrar to surcharge officers etc. of a registered society.
47.Appeal to the Minister.
PART IX
DISPUTES
48.Settlement of disputes.
49.case stated on question of law.
PART X
RULES
50.Rules.
PART XI
MISCELLANEOUS
51.Recovery of sums due to Government.
52.Powers to exempt any society from requirements as to registration.
53.Power to exempt societies from Act.
54.Power to exempt from stamp duty and registration fees.

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55.Prohibition of the use of word “Co-operative”.
56.Certain Acts not.
57.Penalty for non-compliance with Act.
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CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT
An Act to make provision for the establishment of Co-operative
Societies
Commencement: 1st July 1975
[S 92/75] PART I
PRELIMINARY
Short title.
1.This Act may be cited as the Co-operative Societies Act.
Interpretation.
2.In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
“bonus” means a share of the profits of a registered society
divided among its members in proportion to the share business
done with the society by them from which the profits of the
society were derived;
“by-laws” means the registered by-laws made by a society in the
exercise of any power conferred by this Act, and includes a
registered amendment of the by-laws;
“committee” means the governing body of a registered society,
admitted to memberment of its affairs is entrusted;
“dividend” means a share of the profits of a registered society
divided among its members in proportion to the volume of
capital held by them;
“member” includes a person or registered society joining in the
application for the registration of a society, and a person or ship
after registration in accordance with the by-laws;
“officer” includes a chairman, secretary, treasurer, member of
committee, or other person empowered under the rules or

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by-laws to give directions in regard to the business of a
registered society;
“registered society” means a co-operative society registered
under this Act;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of Co-operative Societies
appointed under section 3 of this Act and includes any person
when exercising such powers of the Registrar as may be
conferred upon him under that section;
“rules” means rules made under this Act.
PART II
REGISTRATION
Appointment of Registrar and Assistant Registrars.
3.(1)His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan shall appoint a fit
and proper person to be Registrar of Co-operative Societies for
Brunei Darussalam and may appoint persons to assist such Registrar, and
may, by general or special order published in the Gazette, confer on any such
persons all or any of the powers of a Registrar under this Act.
(2)Any act or thing directed to be done by or to the Registrar may be
done by or to any officer authorised by the Minister.
Societies which may be registered.
4.(1)Subject to the provisions hereinafter contained, a society which
has as its object the promotion of the economic interest of its members in
accordance with co-operative principles, or a society established with the
object of facilitating the operations of such a society, may be registered under
this Act with or without limited liability as the Registrar may decide:
Provided that the liability of a society which includes at least one
registered society among its members shall be limited.

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Conditions of registration.
5.(1)No society, other than a society of which a member is a
registered society, shall be registered under this Act, which does not consist
of at least 10 persons, each of whom is qualified under section 21 for
membership under this Act.
(2)The word “Co-operative” or its vernacular equivalent shall form
part of the name of every society registered under this Act.
(3)The word “limited” or its vernacular equivalent shall be the last
word in the name of every society with limited liability registered under this
Act.
(4)When for the purposes of this section any question arises as to
age, residence, or occupation of land consisting the qualification of any
persons, that question shall be decided by the Registrar, whose decision shall
be final.
Application for registration.
6.(1)For the purposes of registration an application shall be made to
the Registrar.
(2)The application shall be signed —
(a)in the case of a society of which no member is a registered
society, by at least 10 persons qualified in accordance with the
requirements of section 5(1); and
(b)in the case of a society of which a member is a registered
society, by a duly authorised person on behalf of every such registered
society, and where all the members of the society are not registered
societies by 10 other members, or when there are less than 10 other
members, by all of them.
(3)The application shall be accompanied by copies of the proposed
by-laws of the society, and the persons by whom or on whose behalf such
application is made shall furnish such information in regard to the society as
the Registrar may require.

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Registration.
7.(1)If the Registrar is satisfied that a society has complied with the
provisions of this Act and the rules, and that its proposed by-laws are not
contrary to the Act or to the rules, he may, if he thinks fit, register the society
and its by-laws. An appeal shall lie to the Minister against the refusal of the
Registrar to register any society within one month from the date of such
refusal.
(2)On application for registration the society shall pay such fees as
may be prescribed by the rules.
Societies to be bodies corporate.
8.The registration of a society shall render it a body corporate by the
name under which it is registered, with perpetual succession and a common
seal and with power to hold movable and immovable property, to enter into
contracts to institute and defend suits and other legal proceedings, and to do
all things necessary for the purpose of its constitution.
Evidence of registration.
9.A certificate of registration signed by the Registrar shall be
conclusive evidence that the society therein mentioned is duly registered,
unless it is proved that the registration of the society has been cancelled.
PART III
DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF SOCIETIES
Amendment of the by-laws of a registered society.
10.(1)Any registered society may, subject to this Act and the rules,
amend its by-laws, including the by-law which declares the name of the
society.
(2)No amendment of the by-law of a registered society shall be
valid until that amendment has been registered under this Act, for which
purpose copies of the amendment shall be forwarded to the Registrar.
(3)If the Registrar is satisfied that any amendment of the by-laws is
not contrary to this Act or to the rules, he may, if he thinks fit, register the

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amendment. An appeal shall lie to the Minister against the refusal of the
Registrar to register any amendment of any by-law within one month from
the date of such refusal.
(4)An amendment which changes the name of a society shall not
affect any right or obligation of the society or any of its members or past
members, and any legal proceedings pending may be continued by or against
the society under its new name.
(5)When the Registrar registers an amendment of the by-laws of a
registered society, he shall issue a copy of the amendment certified by him,
which shall be conclusive evidence of the fact that the amendment has been
duly registered.
(6)In this section, “amendment” includes the making of a new
by-law and the variation or rescission of a by-law.
Address of society.
11.Every registered society shall have an address, registered in
accordance with the rules, to which all notices and communications may be
sent, and shall send to the Registrar notice of every change of that address.
Copy of Act, rules, by-laws etc. to be open to inspection.
12.Every registered society shall keep a copy of this Act and of the rules
and of its by-laws and a list of its members open to inspection, free of charge,
at all reasonable times at the registered address of the society.
Disposal of produce to or through a registered society.
13.(1)A registered society which has as one of its objects the disposal
of any article produced or obtained by the work or industry of its members,
whether the produce of agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fisheries,
handicraft or otherwise, may provide in its by-laws or may otherwise
contract with its members —
(a)that every such member who produces any such article shall
dispose of the whole or any specified amount, proportion or
description thereof to or through the society; and
(b)that any member who is proved or adjudged, in such manner
as may be prescribed by the rules to be guilty of a breach of the

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by-laws or contract pay to the society as liquidated damages a sum
ascertained or assessed in such manner as may be prescribed by the
aforesaid rules or its by-laws.
(2)No contract entered into under the provision of this section shall
be contested in any court on the ground only that it constitutes a contract in
restraint of trade.
Creation of charges in favour of registered societies.
14.Subject to any prior claim of the Government on the property of the
debtor and to the lien or claim of a landlord in respect of rent or any money
recoverable as rent and in the case of immovable property to any prior
registered charge thereon —
(a)any debt or outstanding demand payable to a registered
society by any member or past member shall be a first charge on all
crops or other agricultural produce, felled timber or other forest
produce, marine produce, fish (fresh-water and salt-water), live-stock,
fodder, agricultural, industrial and fishing implements, plant,
machinery, boats, tackle and nets, raw materials, stock-in-trade and
generally all produce of labour and things used in connection with
production raised, purchased or produced in whole or in part from any
loan whether in money or in goods given him by the society:
Provided that nothing herein contained shall affect the claim of any
bona fide purchaser or transferee without notice;
(b)any outstanding demands or dues payable to a registered
housing society by any member or past member in respect of rent,
shares, loans or purchase money or any other rights payable to such
society shall be a first charge upon his interest in the immovable
property of the society.
Charge and set-off in respect of shares or interests of members.
15.A registered society shall have a charge upon the shares or interest in
the capital and on the deposits of a member or past member or deceased
member and upon any dividend, bonus or profits payable to a member or
past member or to the estate of a deceased member in respect of any debt due
to the society from such member or past member or estate and may set off
any sum credited or payable to a member or estate of a deceased member in
or towards payment of any such debt.

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Shares or interest not liable to attachment or sale.
16.Subject to the provisions of section 15, the share or interest of a
member in the capital of a registered society shall not be liable to attachment
or sale under any decree or order of a court in respect of any debt or liability
incurred by such member, and neither his assignee in insolvency nor a
receiver duly appointed shall be entitled to, or have any claim on, such share
or interest.
Transfer of interest on death of member.
17.(1)On the death of a member, a registered society may transfer the
share or interest of the deceased member to the person nominated in
accordance with the rules made in this behalf, or if there is no person so
nominated, to such persons as may appear to the committee to be the heir or
legal representative of the deceased member, or may pay to such nominee,
heir or legal representative, as the case may be, a sum representing the value
of such member’s share or interest, as ascertained in accordance with the
rules or by-laws:
Provided that —
(a)in the case of a society with unlimited liability such
nominee, heir or legal representative, as the case may be, may require
payment by the society of the value of the share or interest of the
deceased member ascertained as aforesaid;
(b)in the case of a society with limited liability, the society may
transfer the share or interest of the deceased member to such nominee,
heir or legal representative, as the case may be, being qualified in
accordance with the rules and by-laws for membership of the society,
or on his application within 6 months of the death of the deceased
member to any person specified in the application who is so qualified.
(2)A registered society shall pay all other moneys due to the
deceased member from the society to such nominee, heir or legal
representative, as the case may be.
(3)All transfers and payments made by a registered society in
accordance with the provisions of this section shall be valid and effectual
against any demand made upon the society by any other person.

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Deposits by or on behalf of minors.
18.(1)A registered society may receive deposits from or for the benefit
of minors and it shall be lawful for a registered society to pay such minors
the interest which may become due on such deposits. Any deposits made by
a minor may, together with the interest accrued thereon, be paid to that
minor; and any deposit made on behalf of a minor may, together with the
interest accrued thereon, be paid to the guardian of that minor for the use of
the minor.
(2)The receipt of any minor or guardian for money paid to him
under this section shall be sufficient discharge of the liability of the society in
respect of that money.
Register of members.
19.(1)Any register or list of members kept by any registered society
shall be prima facie evidence of any of the following particulars entered
therein —
(a)the date at which the name of any person was entered in
such register or list as a member;
(b)the date at which any such person ceased to be a member.
Proof of entries in books of society.
20.(1)A copy of any entry in a book of a registered society regularly
kept in the course of business shall, if certified in such a manner as may be
prescribed by the rules, be received in any legal proceeding, civil or criminal,
as prima facie evidence of the existence of such entry and shall be admitted
as evidence of the matters, transactions and accounts therein recorded in
every case where, and to the same extent as, the original entry itself is
admissible.
(2)No officer of any such society shall, in any legal proceedings to
which the society is not a party, be compelled to produce any of the society’s
books, the contents of which can be proved under subsection (1) or to appear
as a witness to prove any matters, transactions or accounts therein recorded,
unless the court for special reasons so directs.

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PART IV
RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF MEMBERS
Qualification for membership.
21.In order to be qualified for membership of a co-operative society a
person, other than a registered society, must —
(a)have attained the age of 18 years; and
(b)be resident within or in occupation of land within the
society’s area of operation as described by the by-laws.
Members not to exercise rights till due payment made.
22.No member of a registered society shall exercise rights of a member
unless or until he has made such payment to the society in respect of
membership or acquired such interest in the society, as may be prescribed by
the rules or by-laws.
Restriction of membership in society
23.Except with the sanction of the Registrar, no person shall be member
of more than one registered society whose primary object is to grant loans to
its members.
Votes of members.
24.Each member of a registered society shall have one vote only as a
member, in the affairs of the registered society except that in case of an
equality of votes the chairman shall have a casting vote in addition to his
vote as a member:
Provided that a registered society which is a member of any other
registered society shall have as many votes as may be prescribed by the
by-laws of such other society, and may, subject to such by-laws, appoint any
number of its members not exceeding the number of such votes, to exercise
its voting power. No other proxies shall be allowed.

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Contracts with society of members who are minors.
25.The minority or non-age of any person duly admitted as a member of
any registered society shall not debar that person from executing any
instrument or giving any aquittance necessary to be executed or given under
this Act or the rules made thereunder, and shall not be a ground for
invalidating or avoiding any contract entered into by any such person with
the society; and any such contract entered into by any such person with the
society, whether as principal or as surety, shall be enforceable at law or
against such person notwithstanding his minority or non-age.
No individual to hold more than one-fifth of share capital of any society.
26.No member, other than a registered society, shall hold more than
one-fifth of the share capital of any co-operative society.
Restrictions on transfer or charge of share or interest.
27.(1)The transfer or charge of the share or interest of a member or past
member or deceased member in the capital of a registered society shall be
subject to such conditions as to maximum holdings as may be prescribed by
this Act or by the rules.
(2)In the case of a society registered with unlimited liability, a
member shall not transfer any share held by him or his interest in the capital
of the society or any part thereof, unless —
(a)he has held such share or interest for not less than one year;
and
(b)the transfer or charge is made to the society, or to a member
of the society, or to a person whose application for membership has
been accepted by the committee.
Liability of past member and estate of deceased for debts of society.
28.(1)The liability of a past member for the debts of a registered
society as they existed on the date on which he ceased to be a member shall
not continue for a period of more than 2 years reckoned from that date.
(2)The estate of a deceased member shall not be liable for the debts
of the society as they existed on the date of his decease for a period of more
than 2 years reckoned from the date of his decease.

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PART V
PROPERTY AND FUNDS OF REGISTERED SOCIETIES
Loans made by a registered society.
29.(1)A registered society shall not, except as provided in section 32,
make any loan to any person other than a member:
Provided that, with the consent of the Registrar, a registered society may
make loans to another registered society.
(2)Except with the permission of the Registrar, a registered society
shall not lend money on the security of any movable property other than
produce or goods in which the society is authorised to deal.
(3)The Minister may, by general or special order prohibit or restrict
the lending of money on a mortgage or charge of any description of
immovable property by any registered society or class of registered societies.
Deposits and loans received by a registered society
30.A registered society shall receive deposits and loans from persons
who are not members only to such extent and under such conditions as may
be prescribed by the rules and by-laws.
Restriction on other transaction with non-members
31.Save as is provided in sections 29 and 30, the transactions of a
registered society with persons other than members shall be subject to such
prohibitions and restrictions as may be prescribed by the rules.
Investment of funds
32.A registered society may invest or deposit its funds —
(a)with any bank or persons carrying on the business of
banking approved for this purpose by the Registrar; or
(b)in any securities issued or guaranteed by the government; or
(c)with any other registered society approved for this purpose
by the Registrar; or

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(d)in any other mode approved by the Registrar.
Disposal of profits
33.(1)At least one-fourth of the net profits of every registered society,
as ascertained by the audit prescribed by section 34, shall be carried to a fund
called the reserve fund, which shall be employed as prescribed by the rules:
Provided that the Registrar may at his discretion lower the percentage of
contribution or exempt a society from the obligation to maintain a reserve
fund.
(2) The remainder of such profits and any profits of past years
available for distribution may be divided among members by way of
dividend or bonus, or allocated to any funds constituted by the society to
such extent or under such conditions as may be prescribed by the rules or
by-laws:
Provided that, in the case of a society with unlimited liability, no
distribution of profits shall be made without the general or special order of
the Minister.
(3)Any registered society may, with the sanction of the Registrar,
after one-fourth of the net profits in any year has been carried to a reserve
fund, contribute an amount not exceeding 10 per cent of the remaining net
profits to any charitable purposes or to a common-good fund.
PART VI
AUDIT, INSPECTION AND INQUIRY
Audit.
34.(1)The Registrar shall audit or cause to be audited by some person
authorised by him by general or special order in writing the accounts of
every registered society once at least in every year.
(2)The audit under subsection (1) shall include an examination of
overdue debts, if any, and a valuation of the assets and liabilities of the
registered society.

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(3)The Registrar and every other persons appointed to audit the
accounts of a society shall have power when necessary —
(a)to summon at the time of his audit any officer, agent, servant
or member of the society who he has reason to believe can give
material information in regard to any transactions of the society or the
management of its affairs; or
(b)to require the production of any book or document relating
to the affairs of, or any cash or securities belonging to, the society by
the officer, agent, servant or member in possession of such book,
document, cash or securities.
Power of Registrar to inspect societies’ books etc.
35.The Registrar, or any person authorised by general or special order in
writing by the Registrar shall at all times have access to all the books,
accounts, papers and securities of a registered society, and shall be entitled to
inspect the cash in hand; and every officer of the society shall furnish such
information in regard to the transaction and working of the society as the
person making such inspection may require.
Inquiry and inspection.
36.(1)The Registrar may of his own motion, and shall on the
application of a majority of the committee, or of not less than one-third of the
members of a registered society, hold an inquiry or direct some person
authorised by him by order in writing in this behalf to hold an inquiry into
the constitution, working and financial condition of a registered society; and
all officers and members of the society shall furnish such information in
regard to the affairs of the society and produce the cash in hand and such
books, accounts, papers and securities of the society as the Registrar or the
person authorised by him may require.
(2)The Registrar shall, on the application of a creditor of the
registered society, inspect or direct some person authorised by him in writing
in this behalf to inspect the books of the society, if the applicant —
(a)proves that an ascertained sum of money is then due to him
and that he has demanded payment thereof and has not received
satisfaction within a reasonable time; and

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(b)deposits with the Registrar such sum as security for the costs
of the proposed inspection as the Registrar may require.
(3)The Registrar shall communicate the results of any such
inspection to the creditor and to the society into whose affairs inquiry has
been made.
(4)Where an inquiry is held under subsection (1), or an inspection is
made under subsection (2), the Registrar may by a certificate under his hand
make an award apportioning the costs or such part of the costs, as he may
think right, between the registered society, the members demanding an
inquiry, the officers or former officers of the society, and the creditor, if any,
on whose application the inquiry was made.
(5)Any sum awarded by way of costs against any society or person
under this section may be recovered on production of the certificate referred
to in subsection (4) to a court having jurisdiction in the place where the
registered office of the society is situated or the person resides or carries on
business for the time being, in like manner as a fine imposed by the court.
PART VII
DISSOLUTION
Dissolution.
37.(1)If the Registrar, after holding an inquiry or making an inspection
under section 36 or on receipt of an application made by three-fourths of the
members of a registered society, is of opinion that the society ought to be
dissolved, he may make an order for the cancellation of the registration of the
society.
(2)Any member of a registered society may, within 2 months from
the date of an order under subsection (1), appeal from such order to the
Minister.
(3)Where no appeal is presented within 2 months from the making
of an order cancelling the registration of a society, the order shall take effect
on the expiry of that period. Where an appeal is presented within 2 months,
the order shall not take effect until it is confirmed by the Minister.
(4)Where the Registrar makes an order for the cancellation of the
registration of a society under subsection (1), he may make such further

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order as he may think fit for the custody of the books and documents and the
protection of the assets of the society until the order cancelling registration
takes effect.
(5)No registered society shall be wound up save by an order of the
Registrar.
Cancellation of registration of a society due to lack of membership.
38.The Registrar may, by order in writing, cancel the registration of any
registered society other than a society which includes among its members
one or more registered societies, if at any time it is proved to his satisfaction
that the number of the members has been reduced to less than 10. Every such
order shall take effect from the date thereof.
Effect of cancellation of registration.
39.Where the registration of a society is cancelled by an order under
section 37 or under section 38 the society shall cease to exist as a corporate
body from the date on which the order takes effect, hereinafter referred to as
the date of dissolution:
Provided that any privileges conferred on the society by or under sections
14, 15, 16 and 17 shall be deemed to be vested in any liquidator appointed
for that society by the Registrar.
Liquidation after cancellation of registration of society.
40.Where the registration of a society is cancelled under section 37 or 38
the Registrar may appoint one or more persons to be, subject to his direction
and control, the liquidator or liquidators of the society.
Liquidator’s powers.
41.(1)A liquidator appointed under section 40 shall, subject to the
guidance and control of the Registrar and to any limitations imposed by the
Registrar by order under section 42 have power to—
(a)determine from time to time the contributions to be made by
members and past members or by the estates of deceased members of
the society to its assets;

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(b)appoint a day by proclamation or notice before which
creditors whose claims are not already recorded in the books of the
society shall state their claims for admission or be excluded from any
distribution made before they have proved them;
(c)decide any question of priority which arises between
creditors and draw up a scheme for the payment of their dues;
(d)refer disputes to arbitration and institute and defend suits
and other legal processings by and on behalf of the society by his
name of office and to appear in court as a litigant in person on behalf
of the society;
(e)empower any person to make collections and to grant valid
receipts on his behalf;
(f)decide by what persons and in what proportions the cost of
liquidation are to be borne;
(g)give such directions in regard to the collection and
distribution of the assets of the society and the disposal of the books
and documents of the society as may be necessary in the course of
winding up the society;
(h)compromise any claim by or against the society provided
the sanction of the Registrar has first been obtained;
(i)call such general meetings of members as may be necessary
for the proper conduct of the liquidation;
(j)take possession of the books, documents and assets of the
society;
(k)sell the property of the society;
(l)carry on the business of the society so far as may be
necessary for winding it up beneficially:
Provided that nothing herein contained shall entitle the liquidator
of a credit society to issue any loan; and
(m) arrange for the distribution of the assets of the society in a
convenient manner when a scheme of distribution has been approved
by the Registrar.

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(2)A liquidator shall deposit the funds and other assets of a
dissolved society which are collected by him or which come into his
possession as liquidator in such a manner and in such a place as may from
time to time be determined by the Registrar.
(3)A liquidator shall, every 3 months, submit to the Registrar a
report stating the progress made in winding up the affairs of the society, and
shall, on completion of the liquidation proceedings, submit a final report and
make over to the Registrar all books, registers and accounts belonging to the
society and all books and accounts relating to such proceedings kept by him.
(4)Any liquidator appointed under this Act shall insofar as such
powers are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this section, have
power to summon and enforce the attendance of parties and witnesses and to
compel the production of documents by the same means and (so far as may
be) in the same manner as is provided in the case of a court.
Power of Registrar to control liquidation.
42.A liquidator shall exercise his powers subject to the control and
revision of the Registrar, who may —
(a)rescind or vary any order made by a liquidator and make
whatever new order is required;
(b)remove a liquidator from office;
(c)call for all books, documents and assets of the society;
(d)by order in writing limit the powers of a liquidator under
section 41;
(e)require accounts to be rendered to him by the liquidator;
(f)procure the auditing of the liquidator’s accounts and
authorise the distribution of the assets of the society;
(g)make an order for the remuneration of the liquidator; or
(h)refer any subject of dispute between a liquidator and any
third party to arbitration if that party shall have consented in writing
to be bound by the decision of the arbitrator.

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Enforcing an order.
43.(1)The decision of an arbitrator on any matter referred to him under
section 42 shall be binding upon the parties, and shall be enforceable in like
manner as an order made by the Registrar under that section.
(2)An order made by a liquidator or by the Registrar under section
41 or 42 shall be enforced by any court having jurisdiction over the place
where the registered office of the society is situated in like manner as a
decree of that court.
Limitation of the jurisdiction of the court.
44.Save insofar herein before expressly provided, no civil court shall
have any jurisdiction in respect of any matter concerned with the dissolution
of a registered society under this Act, and no appeal shall lie to any civil
court from any order of the liquidator.
Closure of liquidation.
45.(1)In the liquidation of a society whose registration has been
cancelled, the funds, including the reserve fund, shall be applied first to the
costs of liquidation, then to the discharge of the liabilities of the society, then
to the payment of the share capital and then, provided the by-laws of the
society permit, to the payment of a dividend at a rate not exceeding 10
per cent per annum for any period for which no disposal of profits was made.
(2)When liquidation of a society has been closed and any creditor of
that society has not claimed or received what is due to him under the scheme
of distribution, notice of the closing of the liquidation shall be published in
the Gazette; and, all claims against the funds of the society liquidated shall
be proscribed when 2 years have elapsed from the date of publication of the
Gazette notice.
(3)Any surplus remaining after the application of the funds to the
purposes specified in subsection (1), including moneys remaining in respect
of claims proscribed under subsection (2), shall be applied to such local
object or objects of public utility as may be selected by a majority of the
votes of the members of the society (as they existed at the date of the
dissolution) assembled in a special meeting and approved of by the Registrar.
If within 3 months of the dissolution of the society the members fail to make
a selection which is approved by the Registrar, the latter shall place the said
balance on deposit in some co-operative or other bank until a new

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co-operative society with a similar area of operation is registered, in which
event it shall be credited to the reserve fund of such society.
(4)The interest accruing in respect of the balance in any bank in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (3) may be applied by the
Registrar for the furtherance of co-operative principles in such manner as the
Minister may, from time to time, direct.
(5)When any balance placed on deposit in a bank in accordance
with the provision of subsection (3) has remained on deposit for a period of
10 years such balance may after the expiration of such period be applied by
the Registrar for such purposes specified in subsection (4) as the Minister
may, from time to time, direct.
PART VIII
SURCHARGE AND ATTACHMENT
Power of Registrar to surcharge officers etc. of a registered society.
46.(1)Where, in the course of the winding-up of a registered society it
appears that any person who has taken part in the organisation or
management of such society or any past or present officer of the society has
misapplied or retained or become liable or accountable for any money or
property of such society or has been guilty of misfeasance or breach of trust
in relation of such society, the registrar may, on the application of the
liquidator or any creditor or contributory, examine into the conduct of such
person and make an order requiring him to repay or restore the money or
property or any part thereof with interest at such rate as the Registrar thinks
just or to contribute such sum to the assets of such society by way of
compensation in regard to the misapplication retainer, dishonesty or breach
of trust as the Registrar thinks just. Such order shall be enforced in the same
manner as if the order had been a judgement of a court.
(2)This section shall apply notwithstanding that the act is one for
which the offender may be criminally responsible.
Appeal to the Minister.
47.Any person aggrieved by any order of the Registrar under section 46
may appeal to the Minister within 21 days from the date of the order and the
decision of the Minister shall be final and conclusive.

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PART IX
DISPUTES
Settlement of disputes.
48.(1)If any dispute touching the business of a registered society
arises —
(a)among members, past members or persons claiming through
members, past members and deceased members; or
(b)between a member, past member or person claiming through
a member, past member or deceased member, and the society, its
committee or any officer of the society; or
(c)between the society or its committee and any officer of the
society; or
(d)between the society and any other registered society,
such disputes shall be referred to the Registrar for decision.
A claim by a registered society for any debt or demand due to it from a
member, past member or the nominee, heir or legal representative of a
deceased member, shall be deemed to be a dispute touching the business of
the society within the meaning of this subsection.
(2)The Registrar may, on receipt of a reference under
subsection (1) —
(a)decide the dispute himself; or
(b)refer it for disposal to an arbitrator or arbitrators.
(3)Any party aggrieved by the award of an arbitrator or arbitrators
may appeal therefrom to the Registrar within such period and in such manner
as may be prescribed.
(4)A decision of the Registrar under subsection (2) or on appeal
under subsection (3) shall be final and shall not be called in question in any
legal proceedings whatsoever.
(5)The award of the arbitrator or arbitrators under subsection (2)
shall, if no appeal is preferred to the Registrar under subsection (3), or if any

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such appeal is abandoned or withdrawn, be final and shall not be called in
question in any legal proceedings whatsoever and shall be enforced in the
same manner as if the award had been a judgment of a court.
Case stated on question of law.
49.Notwithstanding anything contained in the last foregoing section, the
Registrar at any time when proceeding to a decision under this Act, or the
Minister at any time when an appeal has been preferred to him against any
decision of the Registrar under this Act, may refer any question of law
arising out of such decision for the opinion of the High Court.
(2)Any judge, or judges of the High Court as the Chief Justice may
direct, may consider and determine any question of law so referred, and the
opinion given on such question shall be final and conclusive.
PART X
RULES
Rules.
50.(1)The Minister may make all such rules as may be necessary for
the purpose of carrying out or giving effect to the principles and provisions
of this Act.
(2)In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the power
conferred by subsection (1), such rules may —
(a)prescribe the forms to be used and the conditions to be
complied with in applying for the registration of a society and the
procedure in the matter of such application;
(b)prescribe the conditions to be complied with by persons
applying for admission or admitted as members, and provide for the
election and admission of members from time to time, and the
payments to be made and interest to be acquired before exercising
rights of membership;
(c)subject to the provisions of section 26 of this Act, prescribe
the maximum number of shares or portion of the capital of a
registered society which may be held by a member;

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(d)prescribe the extent to which a registered society may limit
the number of its members;
(e)provide for the withdrawal and expulsion of members and
for the payments, if any, to be made to members who withdrew or are
expelled, and for the liabilities of past members;
(f)provide for general meetings of the members and for the
procedure at such meetings and the powers to be exercised by such
meetings;
(g)provide for the appointment, suspension and removal of the
members of the committee and other officers, and for the procedure at
meetings of the committee, and for the powers to be exercised and the
duties to be performed by the committee and other officers;
(h)prescribe the matters in respect of which a society may or
shall make by-laws and for the procedure to be followed in making,
altering and rescinding by-laws, and the conditions to be satisfied
prior to such making, alteration or rescission;
(i)regulate the manner in which funds may be raised by means
of shares or debentures or otherwise;
(j)prescribe the conditions to be observed by a registered
society applying for financial assistance from government;
(k)prescribe the payments to be made, the conditions to be
complied with and the forms of the bonds, instruments or other
documents to be executed, by the members applying for loans or cash
credits, the period for which loans may be made or credits granted,
and the maximum amount which may be lent and the maximum credit
which may be allowed to individual members with or without the
consent of the Registrar;
(l)provide for the mode in which the value of a deceased
member’s interest shall be ascertained and for the nomination of a
person to whom such interest may be paid or transferred;
(m)provide for the mode in which the value of the interest of a
member who has become of unsound mind and incapable of
managing himself or his affairs shall be ascertained and for the
nomination of any person to whom such interest may be paid or
transferred;

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(n)provide for the formation and the maintenance of reserve
funds, and the objects to which such funds may be applied, and for the
investment of any funds under the control of any registered society;
(o)prescribe the conditions under which profits may be
distributed to the members of a society with unlimited liability and
maximum rate of dividend which may be paid by societies;
(p)prescribe the accounts and books to be kept by a registered
society, and for the periodical publication of a balance sheet showing
the assets and liabilities of a registered society;
(q)provide for the audit of the accounts of registered societies
and for the charges, if any, to be made for such audit;
(r)prescribe the returns to be submitted by registered societies
to the Registrar, and the persons by whom and the form in which the
same are to be made;
(s)provide for the persons by whom, and the form in which,
copies of entries in books of registered societies may be certified;
(t)provide for the formation and maintenance of a register of
members, and, where the liability of members is limited by shares, of
a register of shares;
(u)provide for the inspection of documents and registers at the
Registrar’s office and the fees to be paid therefor and for the issue of
copies of such documents or registers;
(v)prescribe the manner in which any question as to the breach
of any by-law or contract relating to the disposal of produce to or
through a society, may be determined, and the manner in which the
liquidated damages for any such breach may be ascertained or
assessed;
(w)prescribe the mode of appointing an arbitrator or arbitrators
and the procedure to be followed in proceedings before the Registrar
or such arbitrator or arbitrators;
(x)prescribe the procedure to be followed by a liquidator
appointed under section 40 and the cases in which appeals shall lie
from the orders of such liquidator;

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(y)prescribe the forms to be used, the fees to be paid, the
procedure to be observed and all other matters connected with or
incidental to the presentation, hearing and disposal of appeals under
this Act or the rules.
PART XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Recovery of sums due to Government.
51.(1)All sums due from a registered society or from an officer or past
member of a registered society as such to the Government may be recovered
in the manner provided for the recovery of debts due to the government
under the law for the time being in force.
(2)Sums due from a registered society to the Government and
recoverable under subsection (1) may be recovered first, from the property of
the society, secondly, in the case of a society of which the liability of the
members is limited, from the members subject to the limit of their liability;
and thirdly, in the case of other societies, from the members.
Powers to exempt any society from requirements as to registration.
52.Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act His Majesty in
Council may by special order in each case and subject to such conditions as
he may impose, exempt any society from any of the requirements as to
registration.
Power to exempt societies from Act.
53.His Majesty in Council may by general or special order exempt any
registered society or class of societies from any of the provisions of this Act,
or may direct such provisions shall apply to any society or class of societies
with effect from such date or with such modification as may be specified in
the order

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Power to exempt from stamp duty and registration fees.
54.(1)His Majesty in Council by notification in the Gazette may, in the
case of any registered society or class of registered societies, reduce or
remit —
(a)the stamp duty with which, under any law for the time being
in force, instruments executed by or on behalf of a registered society,
or by an officer or member, and relating to the business of such
society, or any class of such instruments are respectively chargeable;
or
(b)any fee payable under any laws relating to registration or
licensing for the time being in force.
(2)A notification exempting any registered society from the fees
referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) may provide for the withdrawal
of such exemption.
Prohibition of the use of the word “Co-operative” .
55.(1)No person other than a registered society shall trade or carry on
business under any name or title which contains the word “Co-operative”
without the consent of His Majesty in Council:
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to the use by any person
or his successor in interest of any name or title under which he traded or
carried on business at the commencement of this Act.
(2)Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall
be guilty of an offence: Penalty, a fine of $2,000 and, in the case of a
continuing offence, to a further fine of $100 for each day during which the
offence continues.
Certain Acts Caps. 39, 66, 35 and 128.
56.The provisions of the Companies Act (Chapter 39), the Societies Act
(Chapter 66), the Income Tax Act (Chapter 35) and the Trade Unions Act
(Chapter 128) shall not apply to societies registered under this Act.

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Penalty for non-compliance with Act.
57.(1)Any —
(a)registered society or officer or member thereof wilfully
neglecting or refusing to do any act or to furnish any information
required for the purposes of this Act by the Registrar or other person
duly authorised by him in that behalf; or
(b)person wilfully or without reasonable excuse disobeying
any summons, requisition or lawful written order issued under the
provisions of this Act, or failing to furnish any information lawfully
required from him by a person authorised to do so under the
provisions of this Act,
shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
(2)Every offence referred to in subsection (1) shall be punishable by
a fine of $2,000 and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of
$100 for each day during which the offence continues; and in the case of a
second or subsequent offence it shall be punishable by a fine of $8,000 and in
the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of $200 for each day during
which the offence continues.