Please take note of important changes in the definition of an Associate Member as per amended Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act w.e.f. 9/03/2019. In this article, we have noted the provision prior to amendment of the law so that the amended legal position become very clear.
- The Associate Member is a person who has been admitted as member on written recommendation of a member of cooperative housing society to exercise his rights and duties with his written consent. This was the position even prior to amended law.
- The Associate Member is a person who must not have interest in the flat in that cooperative housing society. Prior to amendment a person having interest in the property/ flat was also called Associate Member if his name was not first in the share certificate. After amendment, a person having interest in the flat is called Joint Member, whose name is not first in the share certificate.
- The Associate Member is a person whose name must not be in the share certificate. Prior to amendment an Associate Member’s name was to be endorsed on the share certificate.
- The Associate Member must be one of the close relatives namely, husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, son-in law, daughter-in law, nephew, or niece. Prior to amendment any person could be admitted as Associate Member who was not required to be a relative of the member.
- They will also pay one time Associate membership entrance fee, Rs.100/-. Their name is not written on backside of the share certificate, as was done before February, 2014. They will be given a letter on society’s letter head by Chairman or Secretary, stating that he/she is admitted as an Associate member, giving flat number, original owner’s name, share certificate number with share numbers, in that letter.
- The Associate Member can participate in the election and become a committee member or its office bearer, with written consent of the member. This was also the provision prior to amendment of the law.
