Provision Relating to Employees of Co-operatives

Common Cadre System

The Common Cadre System means that employees of several cooperative societies are placed under one unified administrative structure for recruitment, promotion, and management.

Why Common Cadre?

Ensure professional management
Avoid political interference
Provide uniform service conditions
Ensure fair promotion and discipline
Supply trained staff to societies that cannot hire experts individually

Features

Employees belong to a central pool (cadre).
Registrar or Government controls appointment and transfer.
Salaries, promotions, and service rules are uniform.

Examples

Common cadre for secretaries in PACS
Common cadre for managers in district cooperatives

Recruitment Bureau

The Recruitment Bureau is a specialized agency created by the State Government/Registrar to recruit staff for cooperative societies.

Functions of Recruitment Bureau

Conduct examinations (written + interview)
Prepare merit lists
Maintain a panel of eligible candidates
Ensure transparent hiring
Recommend candidates to cooperative societies

Importance

Removes favoritism
Ensures qualified and trained manpower
Reduces corruption in appointments

Selection of Employees

Selection is done by following transparent, merit-based processes.

Selection Procedure

Advertisement of vacancies
Submission and scrutiny of applications
Written examination (general knowledge, cooperative law, finance, etc.)
Interview or viva
Final merit list preparation
Appointment orders issued by:

Recruitment Bureau
OR Cooperative Society (depending on state rules)

Selection is based on:

Educational Qualification
Experience
Performance in tests
Reservation norms

Placement of Employees

Placement means assigning employees to specific posts and specific societies.

Who decides placement?

Recruitment Bureau, or
Registrar, or
Managing Committee (if recruitment is done directly)

Placement Activities

Posting the employee in a particular society (e.g., PACS, dairy cooperative)
Transfer from one society to another
Promotion to higher positions
Posting in training centers or regional offices

Objective: Ensure the right person is placed in the right job for efficient functioning.

Offences and Penalties to Employees

Employees of cooperatives are expected to follow service rules. If they violate them, they are subject to disciplinary actions.

A. Typical Offences

Misappropriation of funds
Fraud or cheating members
Negligence of duties
Leakage of confidential information
Unauthorized absence
Forgery or manipulation of documents
Disobedience of superior orders
Failure to maintain records

B. Penalties (Depending on seriousness)

Minor Penalties

Warning
Censure
Withholding increments
Small fines

Major Penalties

Suspension
Demotion
Dismissal from service
Recovery of loss (surcharge)
Criminal prosecution (in serious fraud cases)

Who imposes penalties?

Managing Committee (Board)
CEO/Secretary
Registrar (in severe cases)

Importance of Employee Regulations in Cooperatives

Ensures professional behavior
Protects member interests
Improves society performance
Prevents corruption
Encourages accountability and transparency

Quick Revision Table

Topic	Meaning
Common Cadre	Unified pool of employees for multiple societies
Recruitment Bureau	Agency that handles cooperative recruitment
Selection	Transparent merit-based hiring
Placement	Posting employees in suitable societies
Employee Offences	Fraud, negligence, misconduct
Penalties	Warning, suspension, dismissal, surcharge

Provision Relating to Appeal, Revision, Review & Cooperative Tribunals

1. Appeal

An appeal means asking a higher authority to reconsider or change a decision made by a lower authority.

When can an Appeal be filed?

Appeals can be made against:

Orders of the Registrar
Orders passed by subordinate officers
Arbitration awards
Liquidator’s decisions
Election-related decisions (in some cases)

Where is the Appeal filed?

Cooperative Tribunal
State Government (in limited matters)
Registrar (higher level), depending on law

Time Limit for Appeal

Usually 60–90 days from the date of the order.

What happens after Appeal?

The higher authority examines the case
May confirm, change, or cancel the earlier order
May send the matter back for re-examination

Revision

Revision is the power of a higher authority to check the correctness and legality of an order passed by its subordinate officer.

Who can use Revision powers?

Registrar of Cooperative Societies
State Government
Cooperative Tribunal (in some states)

When is Revision done?

If the lower authority’s order is illegal
If proper procedure was not followed
If the decision caused injustice
If there was misuse of power

Important Point

Revision is not a fresh hearing like appeal.
It only checks:

Whether law was properly applied
Whether the order is fair and correct

Review

Review means re-examining one’s own order when there is a valid reason.

Who can review an order?

The same authority who passed the original order (Registrar or Tribunal)

When can Review be allowed?

New evidence is discovered later
Important facts were missed earlier
There is a clear error on the face of the order
There was procedural defect (party not heard properly)

Review is allowed only in special cases, not for routine disagreements.

Difference Between Appeal, Revision & Review

Basis	Appeal	Revision	Review
Who files?	Aggrieved party	Higher authority	Same authority
Purpose	Change the order	Check legality	Correct own mistake
Re-hearing	Full re-hearing	No new hearing	Limited re-look
Scope	Wide	Narrow	Very limited

Cooperative Tribunals

A Cooperative Tribunal is a special judicial body created to settle disputes and hear appeals related to cooperative societies.

Why Cooperative Tribunals are needed?

To reduce burden on civil courts
To provide quick and expert justice
To handle cooperative-related technical issues

Functions of Cooperative Tribunal

1. Hear appeals against:

Registrar’s orders
Arbitration awards
Election decisions
Liquidation orders

2. Exercise revision powers (in some states)
3. Act like a civil court for cooperative disputes
4. Give final and binding judgments

Powers of Tribunal

Summon witnesses
Take evidence
Examine records
Issue orders and directions
Reverse, modify, or uphold lower orders

Finality of Tribunal’s Order

Tribunal’s order is final
Can be challenged only in High Court through writ petition (not appeal)

Quick Revision Summary

Topic	Simple Meaning
Appeal	Challenging an order before a higher authority
Revision	Higher authority checking correctness/legal validity
Review	Authority correcting its own order
Cooperative Tribunal	Special court for cooperative disputes

Provision Relating to Employees of Co-operatives