WBCSMadeEasy

Profile: In West Bengal Cooperation Department plays a pivotal role in the uplift of Cooperative Movement with its two wings , Cooperation Directorate and Directorate of Cooperative Audit by way of following International Cooperative Principles as per West Bengal Cooperative Act & Rules .

Functions: While the Cooperation Department expounds the policies, the Cooperation Directorate through its 3 Zonal & 22 Range Offices in West Bengal and Directorate of Cooperative audit through its 21 Range Offices executes those policies in a veritable manner so that all types of registered cooperative Societies run properly following West Bengal Cooperative Act, Rules and the Bye Laws. The Cooperation Directorate looks into the matter of Registration, supervises the democratic management of those societies through election, inspection & enquiry and development of the Cooperatives through the implementation of different schemes and the termination of Registration of those societies if the societies fade into insignificance .The Cooperation Directorate follows all the guidelines and circulars & Notifications of the Cooperation Department issued from time to time. Besides the two Directorates, West Bengal Service Commission, West Bengal Cooperative Tribunal & West Bengal Cooperative Registration Council have been constituted by the Cooperation Department. The Directorate of Cooperative Audit undertake the auditing of those Societes in each financial year so that financial regularities are strictly maintained.

The Service Commission conducts the written Examinations & Interviews for the selection of Candidates for their recruitment in the respective Banks,Wholesale Cooperative Societies etc. in the state as per WBCS Act & Rules. The West Bengal Cooperative Tribunal acts as Appelllate Authority in respect of the dispute cases .

The West Bengal Cooperative Registration Council deals with the matter relating to registration of the proposed cooperative Societies and registration of the amendment of Bye Law of the Registered Cooperative Societies . All those cases are forwarded by the Registering Authorities.

Organization

Cooperation Department

At present the Minister In Charge is Shri Jyotirmoy Kar . The Principal Secretary, Mr. Sumanta Chaudhury, IAS, is the Head of the Department and he is assisted by a number of officers of the rank of Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary and other officers and staff in order to carry out the main duties and functions which are as follows;

To formulate and implement National and State Policies and Programmes for achieving rapid growth and development in order to usher in economic and social change in the lives of the rural and urban population by extensive use of principles of Co-operation.

To undertake developmental planning for the Co-operative Sector of the State.

To formulate Policies relating to Co-operation and co-operative organisations, Co-operative training and education.

To strengthen the Co-operative movement through the participation of National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC), National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), National Co-operative Consumer Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) and National Co-operative Union of India (NCUI).

To bring about integrated development of marketing of agricultural produces and to safeguard the economic interests of the farming community in general and to control the prices of commodities by ensuring extensive participation of co-operatives.

To supplement the efforts of State Governments for increasing the production and productivity of agricultural and horticultural crops as well as to create a strong storage infrastructure in the rural areas by bringing all the districts under the purview of development schemes like ICDP, RKVY, RIDF etc.

To interact and hold meetings and discussions with national institutions like RBI, NABARD, NCDC, NHB etc. and State Government Departments like Finance, Agriculture, Panchayat & Rural Development, Animal Resources Development, Fisheries, MSE & Textiles, SHG & Self-Employment, BCW etc. for ensuring financial help and infrastructure development in the Co-operative Sector

Exercise the powers and perform the duties as per the Co-operative Societies Act and the Rules for development, supervision and regulation of the Co-operative Societies in the State in the following manner;

Appoint the Registrar of Co-operative Societies and members of his team to apply the different provisions of the Act and the Rules for promotion and organizing the Co-operatives as well as to supervise and regulate their activities

Appoint the Director of Co-operative Audit and his team members for carrying out the audit and all related matters in relation to the registered Co-operative Societies.

Constitute and appoint the members of the West Bengal Co-operative Tribunal, Registration Council and Co-operative Service Commission

Exempt any Co-operative Society or Class of Co-operative Societies from the application of the provisions of the Act or Rules.

Direct application of the provisions of the Act or Rules to any Co-operative Society or Class of Co-operative Societies

Prescribe the extent to which a Co-operative Society shall limit the number of its members.

Order amalgamation of any central Co-operative bank with any other central Co-operative bank or with the State Co-operative Bank.

Permit the Registrar to call the General meeting even after the expiry of fifteen months from the date of the last preceding meeting.

Depute Government Officers to manage the affairs of the Co-operative Societies.

Order immediate dissolution of the Board of Directors and appoint Administrator either on recommendation of Registrar or on own motion of the Department.

Rescind or suspend any proceeding or resolution of any General meeting of a Co-operative society or of the Board thereof under certain circumstances.

Nominate on the Board of a State aided Co-operative Society not more than three members or one- third of the total number of elected members of the board whichever is less.

By Notification provide for reservation of not more than one-fifth of the seats on the board of a Co-operative society for socially, economically or educationally backward community, class or group of persons.

Authorize a co-operative society to receive loans by issue or re-issue of debentures.

Grant approval to a co-operative credit society to borrow money by issue of bonds.

Grant financial assistance to Co-operative societies.

Issue directives to any Co-operative society or class of Co-operative societies to modify its policies or to take actions in the manner as may be specified in the order.

Remit duties, fees, tax or cess and grant preference and exemption to any Co-operative society or class of Co-operative societies.

Grant approval by general or special order to any association or body of persons (whether incorporated or not) or any financing bank to be eligible for membership of a co-operative society.

Extend by Notification, the provision of direct membership similar to one provided for primary Co-operative credit society and farmers’ service co-operative society to such other Co-operative society

Order conducting of cost audit or performance audit or both of a society or class of societies.

Authorize inspection of any co-operative society.

Extend time limit for disposal of appeals by the appellate authority (other than Co-operative Tribunal).

Call for and examine the records of any inspection or enquiry held or the proceedings of the Registrar or any person subordinate to him or acting on the authority of Registrar and pass appropriate orders.

Add to and amend the Fifth schedule list of the Act.

Frame Rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act.

Hear and dispose of appeals arising out of orders of apportionment of cost of inspection or inquiry made by Registrar.

Hear and dispose of appeals arising out of orders of approval of expulsion of members from housing Co-operative societies accorded by Registrar.

The Department is responsible for control, supervision and monitoring the activities and working of all the officers and staff in employment in the Department as well as the offices under its control as per services and financial rules of the State Government. It is also responsible for Cadre management of the West Bengal Co-operative Service and the West Bengal Junior Co-operative Service whose members hold key posts in the Range offices, Co-operation Directorate and on deputation to important Co-operative institutions as well as posts in other State Government Offices

Cooperation Directorate

Introduction
Execution of the policies and decisions of the Co-operation Department is carried out through two Directorates, namely, Co-operation Directorate and Co-operative Audit Directorate. The Co-operation Directorate is headed by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, West Bengal, who is a senior officer drawn from the IAS Cadre of the State.

The primary objective of the Co-operation Directorate is to see that genuine co-operatives are organized and managed on sound lines as per the basic principles of co-operation for the promotion of the economic interests and welfare of the people and to render guidance and assistance for the development of Co-operative movement in the State.

The Directorate has its Headquarters at the New Secretariat Buildings at 1, Kiran Sankar Roy Road, Kolkata - 700001 and the field operations are supervised and controlled by the Assistant RCS of the Ranges with offices mainly at the District Head Quarters. The Range Offices are being assisted by the Cooperative Development Officers with assignment of Sub-Divisions and the Inspector of Cooperative Societies with assignment at Block and Municipal Circle level providing the extension services in Development Blocks and Municipal areas spread all over the State. For decentralised supervision, administration and control there are at present three Zonal Offices of the Directorate at the Divisional Level headed by a Senior Officer in the rank of Deputy RCS.

Appointment, Powers and Duties of the Registrar
The Registrar of Co-operative Societies and a number of Officers of the rank of Additional, Joint, Deputy and Assistant Registrars (members of the West Bengal Co-operative Service, a constituted State Service of the Co-operation Department) are appointed under section 9(1) of the Act. Under Section 10(1) of the Act the powers are conferred and duties are imposed on the Officers of the said State Service appointed to assist the Registrar of Co-operative Societies.


Exclusive powers of the RCS, West Bengal
The following powers are exclusively exercised by Registrar of Co-operative Societies, West Bengal:-
to sanction granting of loan by a co-operative society to another co-operative society which is not a member of the former society.
to require any officer (including a former officer) of a co-operative society to pay to the assets of the society for making good the loss sustained by it in direct consequences of the commission or omission specified, or to restore any property misappropriated or fraudulently retained and to pay the cost of any proceeding initiated under section 129 of the Act.

to impose penalties for certain contravention of the provisions of the Act or the Rules or the by-laws.
to grant leave and impose condition for proceeding with or instituting any suit or other legal proceeding against a liquidator or a co-operative society or a member thereof.
to sanction the institution of any prosecution under this Act.
To approve the decision of a co-operative housing society to expel its member.
There are 3 Co-operative Zones under the Co-operation Directorate, namely, Central, Northern and Western Zones which are coterminous with Presidency, Jalpaiguri and Burdwan Divisions of the general administration respectively. These Zones are divided into several Ranges - 6 Ranges in Central Zone, 6 in Northern Zone and 10 in Western Zone. Each Zone office is headed by a Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies who is conferred with the powers and allowed to perform the duties of the Registrar within his jurisdiction as and when the area of membership of a society extends to more than several Ranges belonging to the particular Zone. The Zonal DRCS chiefly supervises over the functioning of the Ranges under his control. Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies heads the Range offices and are responsible for carrying out the various functions of Registrar.

The Registrar has important role to play - right from registration of a Co-operative Society till the cancellation of its registration except in the audit and allied matters which is the responsibility of the Director of Co-operative Audit. There are various types of co-operatives registered and functioning in the State. The Co-operation Directorate and the offices under its control look after the functioning of various types of co-operative societies, e.g., Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, Marketing Societies, Consumers’ Societies, Urban and Employees’ Credit Societies, Urban Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Housing Societies, Labour Contract Societies, Engineering Societies, Transport Societies, Service Societies etc. and Apex (State-level) Federations of these Societies. There are certain types of Co-operative Societies whose activities fall within the developmental functions of the line departments concerned and are regulated by the officers of the concerned Directorates / Apex Federation / Department. They are designated as Ex-Officio Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies, e.g., Directors of Sericulture, Handloom and Textiles, Fisheries, Micro and Small Scale Enterprises, Managing Directors of West Bengal State Co-operative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd. (BENMILK) and so on.

There are cooperative societies with their area of membership covering more than one State. Such Multi State Cooperatives are supervised and controlled by the Central Registrar although the registered offices of such cooperatives are situated in this State.

Statutory Functions of the Registrar
The Registrar performs the following statutory and quasi-judicial functions specified in the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1983 and the Rules framed there under:-

To register Co-operative Societies and appoint the first Board of Directors
To register amendments in the By-laws of Co-operative Societies
To issue directions to Co-operative Societies for amendment of By-laws
To order amalgamation and re-organization of Co-operative Societies
To call the general meeting of a Co-operative Society in the event of failure on part of the Board of the society
To call the Special General meeting of a Co-operative Society
To order for dissolution and re-constitution of the Board of a Co-operative Society in a Special General Meeting
To depute or recommend for deputation of Government Officers to manage the affairs of Co-operative Society
To order dissolution of Board and appoint Administrators in co-operative societies
To appoint Special Officer in cases where the board of directors of the Co-operative Societies stands dissolved by operation of provisions of Section 31 of the Act
To issue directions for holding the meeting of the Board of Directors
To issue orders suspending the execution of any resolution or orders of the Board of Directors or of its Chairman
To order removal of Administrators or Special Officers and appoint Board of Directors to manage the affairs of a co-operative society
To appoint Board of Directors to manage the affairs of a co-operative society where elected Board is unable to function due to an order of any court or elections could not be held due to an order of any court or otherwise
To accord sanction to creation of number of posts in the service of a co-operative society
To approve the compromise or arrangement between co-operative society and its creditor
To accord permission to the co-operative society to invest its funds or utilization of its bad debt fund
To accord approval for using the reserve fund and other funds in the business of the society
To grant prior sanction for payment of dividend in case of society having unlimited liability or in case where the audit officer has reported that any asset is bad or doubtful and not adequately covered
To grant prior sanction for ex gratia payment to the staff in case of loss- making society
To relax the rules relating to restrictions of issue of loans and borrowings in certain cases
To grant sanction in favour of a co-operative society to invest its funds in share or debenture or security of any other co-operative society in certain cases
To grant prior permission for transfer or letting out of land, house or apartment in a housing society
To order inspection of co-operative societies
To order inquiry into the constitution, working and financial condition of a co-operative society or into any specific matter relating to affairs of a co-operative society
To order apportionment of cost of inspection or inquiry either wholly or in part between the co-operative society and the directors, members, delegates or creditors thereof or the financing bank and the officers and members (present or the past ) of the co-operative society
To settle disputes referred to him in prescribed manner by deciding it himself or by referring the same for disposal to any officer exercising the powers of Registrar or by referring the same for disposal to Arbitrator
To order winding up of a co-operative society and cancellation of registration of societies
To order distraint and sale of the produce of the mortgaged land , including the standing crops thereon for of any sum due to primary co-operative credit society or central co-operative bank and central co-operative land development bank
To appoint Receiver in accordance with the provisions of Transfer of Property Act, 1882 for the purpose of conduct of sale and delivery of possession of any property sold under Chapter XIII of the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act,1983
To have free access to books, accounts, documents, securities, cash and other properties belonging to, or in the custody of a co-operative society
To enforce attendance of witnesses and production of documents as and when necessary for the purpose of carrying out any of purposes of the Co-operative Societies Act 1983
To apply on his own motion or to authorize any person to apply to any Judicial or Metropolitan Magistrate of first class having appropriate jurisdiction for seizing and taking possession of books, accounts, documents, securities, cash and other properties in the case of refusal of co-operative society
To order direct conditional attachment of property of a person or a co-operative society under certain circumstances
To make award directing the defaulting member or his surety to make payment of sum due to a co-operative society or financing bank
To enforce performance of obligations under the Co-operative Societies Act 1983 or the Rules framed there under or the by-laws in case of failure of the co-operative society to do so
To decide whether any act was done in good faith in connection with the affairs of a co-operative society
To revise any order made by himself
To sanction prosecution to be instituted under the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1983
The Registrar is also responsible for initiating and recommending proposals for financial assistance and aid under various beneficiary schemes approved by the Central / State Governments to various sectors of Co-operative. Co-operation Directorate is responsible for planning and preparation of annual budget for all the offices under the control of the Directorate as well the Headquarters. The Registrar of Co-operative Societies, West Bengal, is responsible for all the administrative functions like granting all kind of leave, payment of salaries and allowances to the staff and officers of the Directorate. The members of the West Bengal Subordinate Co-operative Service, i.e., the Inspectors of Co-operative Societies are appointed by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies and he also acts as the transferring Authority. He also acts as the Vigilance Officer the Directorate.

At present there are 22 Cells and 4 Sections in the Co-operation Directorate (Head Quarters). The 22 Cells are

Administration, Pension & Training Cell
Consumer Cell
Co-operative Education & Publicity Cell
Dairy & Fishery Cell
e-Governance Cell
Housing Cell
Industries Cell
Information Cell
Integrated Co-operative Development Project (ICDP) Cell
Kolkata Metropolitan Area Housing (KMAH) Cell
Law Cell
Liquidation & Revitalization Cell
Long Term Credit Cell
Marketing and Processing Cell
Monitoring Cell – RKVY & ICDP
Planning & Development Cell
Rajarhat Township Area Housing (RTAH) Cell
Self-Help Groups & Women Empowerment Cell
Short Term Credit Cell
Urban Credit Cell
Vehicle Cell
Vigilance Cell
The 4 Sections beyond the above 22 Cells are :-

Accounts Section
Establishment Section
Record Section
Type Section
1. Administration, Pension & Training Cell
The Cell is presently headed by an Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies, who is assisted by 1 Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, 1 Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies, 3 Co-operative Development Officers, 1 Head Clerk, 7 Upper Division Clerks and 4 Lower Division Clerks. The Cell deals with the recruitment of Group–D Staff, appointment of LDCs, UDCs and Inspectors of CS, all service matters (including cases of leave, periodical increment, pay fixation, permission for acquiring immovable properties, General Provident Fund, etc.) of all the staff and Officers of the Co-operation Directorate as well as Pension matters and training of the staff and officers of the Directorate.

2. Consumer Cell
Consumer Cell or Consumers’ Co-operative Cell of the Co-operation Directorate is headed by 1 Joint RCS who is assisted by 1 Deputy RCS, 1 Assistant RCS & 3 CDOs. The Cell performs the regulatory and supervisory role in respect of the three-tier Consumers’ Co-operative organizations throughout West Bengal, e.g., inspection, holding of Annual General Meetings and election of Board of Directors in time, scrutiny or financial proposals, review of the business position and issue of post-review business advice etc. to those societies, appointment of Election Officer to conduct election in the consumers’ societies, organization of new consumer co-operatives and proposal for liquidation of dormant consumer co-operatives.

There is a large network of Consumers’ Co-operatives spread over the State for distribution of consumer articles at competitive and reasonable prices to the people of both urban and rural areas. Some consumer societies also play significant role in distribution of consumer goods under Public Distribution System. Such network consists of the West Bengal Consumers’ Co-operative Federation Ltd. (CONFED) at the Apex level, 28 Wholesale Consumers’ Co-operative Societies at the Central level and a large number of Primary Consumers’ Co-operative Societies which are playing significant role in service to the consumers. The Government of West Bengal has come forward by rendering financial assistance to such co-operatives in different shapes, such as, Share, Grant and Loans.

CONFED and the Wholesale Consumers’ Co-operative Societies run 137 Departmental Stores / Self-Service Centres and Large-size Retail outlets and 500 Small-size Retails outlets in the Districts and Sub-Divisional Town in rural areas and in the city of Kolkata. Besides, a good number of PACS and PAMS are also engaged in the distribution of consumers goods in rural areas.

3. Co-operative Education & Publicity Cell
This Cell has been constituted in July, 2009 under an Additional RCS who is assisted by 1 Assistant RCS, 1 CDO and 1 Inspector of CS. This Cell looks after organization of sensitation programmes for popularizing Co-operative Principles among School and College students and publication of advertisements in various print and electronic media for education and information of the common people in co-operative matters. The Cell has also taken initiatives so that Co-operation is introduced as a full-fledged subject at graduate level in various Universities in the State.

4. Dairy and Fishery Cell
The Cell was established to look after the workings of Milk Co-operative Societies and Fishermen Co-operative Societies organized in the three tier systems. The Cell is headed by 1 Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies and no other officers are attached with the Cell. The powers of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies under WBCS Act & Rules excepting those mentioned in the 1st Schedule of the Act, has been delegated to the Director of Fisheries under Memo No. 4755-Coop. Dated 16/11/1985 in respect of Fishery Co-operative Societies and to the Managing Director, West Bengal Co-operative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd. in respect of Milk (Dairy) and multiple live-stock Co-operative Societies under Memo No.659-Coop. Dated 08/02/1996 and No. 4407-Coop. dated 19/10/2004 respectively empowering them to act as Ex-officio Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies. All the statutory functions, monitoring and supervisions related to Dairy & Fishery Co-operative Societies are now being done by the authorities mentioned above. As a result, functions of Dairy & Fishery Cell under this Directorate has been limited to only some correspondences received from different corners regarding Milk Producers’ and Fishermen’s Societies including Apex Federations, sending of reports sought for by the Co-operation Department and attending meetings if called by the Central and Apex op. Societies.

5. e-Governance Cell
In May, 2006 1 Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies of the Co-operation Directorate was nominated by the Co-operation Department as the Project Co-ordinator for Project e-Mission Team of the Department under National e-Goverance Programme (Mission Mode Project) for the Department undertaken by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). In February, 2009, the e-Goverance Cell of the Co-operation Directorate was formed with 1 Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies as the Cell head and in July, 2009, the services of 1 Deputy RCS, 2 CDOs and 1 Inspector of CS were placed in the Cell. The Cell looks after all the e-Governance initiatives of the Government in the Co-operative Sector including creation and enrichment of a Website for the Co-operation Department, creation of IT-enabled work atmosphere in the Co-operation Directorate Head Quarters and the Zonal, Range and Block Level Offices, setting up of Common Service Centres under PACS and other Co-operatives, building up of an electronic network in the co-operative sector in the State.

6. Housing Cell
The Housing Cell of the Co-operation Directorate is headed by 1 Deputy RCS who is assisted by 3 ARCS', 2 CDOs and 1 Inspector of CS. The Cell looks after the general issues involving housing co-operatives of the State, maintains liaison with the Zonal and Range Offices and the KMAH and the RTAH Cells of the Directorate, maintains files of more than 1000 of important and complex Housing Societies, issues instructions to the sub-ordinate offices and takes up policy and legal issues with the Co-operation Department for settlement.

7. Industries Cell
The Industries Cell of the Co-operation Directorate is headed by 1 Joint RCS, assisted by 1 Assistant RCS. The power of the Registrar in respect of Industrial Co-operative Societies is vested in the Director of Micro & Small Scale Enterprises and ex-officio Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies, that of Handloom Weavers’ Co-operative Societies in the Director of Handloom & Textiles and ex-officio Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies and that of Silk Weavers’ Co-operative Societies in the Director of Sericulture & ex-officio Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies. The Industries Cell deals with different issues related to these societies, looks after the Engineers’ Co-operative, Labour Contract Co-operative, Service Co-operatives, Electricity Co-operatives and all other non-credit Co-operatives and issues instructions to the sub-ordinate offices on the basis of matters referred to by them in respect of all those societies and takes up policy issues related to these societies with the Co-operation Department for settlement thereof.

8. Information Cell
This Cell deals with all the matters related to the Right to Information Act, 2005, so far as it relates to the Co-operation Directorate (Head Quarters) or any of its sub-ordinate offices at Zonal, Range and Block levels, including obtaining information from the co-operative societies so far as it relates to the records where the Directorate has any legal access to and percolating the same to the applicants seeking such information under the said Act. 1 Deputy RCS is designated as the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) and 1 Assistant RCS is designated as the Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) and they are assisted by 2 Inspectors of CS. An appeal against any action or inaction of this Cell may be preferred to the Joint RCS designated as the Appellate Authority under the Act.

9. Integrated Co-operative Development Project (ICDP) Cell
This Cell is headed by 1 Additional RCS who is assisted by 1 Deputy RCS, 1 Assistant RCS and 1 CDO. This Cell deals with the issues raised by the Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs)/ Project Implementation Teams (PITs) of the on-going ICDPs and liaises with Co-operation Department and National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) in respect of ongoing / proposed ICDPs. The Cell processes the financial proposals like ways and means advance or reimbursement claims under the Project and arranges for disbursement through the concerned Range ARCS' via the PIAs.

10. Kolkata Metropolitan Area Housing (KMAH) Cell
The Cell is at present housed at 245, Bepin Behari Ganguly Street, Kolkata-700012. The Cell is headed by 1 DRCS who is assisted by 1 ARCS, 9 CDOs and 2 Inspectors of CS and supporting staff like 1 Head Clerk, 2 UDCs, 1 LDC, 1 Stenographer, 2 Typists, 1 Record Supplier and 5 Group D employees. The Cell deals with registration, inspection, enquiry and exercise of all the statutory powers, duties and obligations entrusted on the Registrar under the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1983 or the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Rules, 1987 in respect of the Primary Housing Co-operative Societies formed within the jurisdiction of Kolkata Metropolitan Area (standing for 100 original Wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and all the wards of Salt Lake City).

11. Law Cell
The Cell is headed by 1 Deputy RCS who is assisted by 2 Assistant RCS, 3 CDOs and 2 Inspectors of CS. The Cell has the following functions :

to defend the Co-operation Directorate and its sub-ordinate offices and also the Co-operation Department in the legal suits filed in the lower Courts, High Court, Supreme Court, the Co-operative Tribunal and the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT)
to file legal cases on behalf of the Co-operation Directorate/ Department and sub-ordinate offices in any of the above Courts as and when situation so demands
to assist the other Cells of the Directorate and the Zonal and Range Offices under the Directorate by providing explanations on law points in matters referred to by the said Cells/ offices or to refer the same to the Co-operation Department for clarification
to appoint arbitrators for the dispute cases filed under the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1983 and follow-up the cases
to propose amendments in the co-operative law to the Department for appropriate decision as and when situation so demands
to take up with the Department all the policy and legal issues relating to application of Cooperative and other laws in the State for removal of difficulties and settlement
12. Liquidation and Revitalisation (L& R) Cell
The Cell is headed by 1 Deputy RCS who is assisted by 1 Assistant RCS. The Cell looks after the works related to the co-operative societies placed under liquidation and revitalization thereof under different Range / Zonal Offices as per provisions of WBCS Act, 1983 under Chapter-XII. The Cell performs its supervisory functions by means of meeting the concerned officers, collection of reports and returns from the Range / Zone level and inspection/visit of the subordinate offices.

A Committee has been set up by the Government for the purpose of disposal of assets and liabilities of the Co-operative Societies placed under liquidation named as “Tender-cum-Valuation Committee” for Co-operative Societies having asset more than Rs.1.00 lac. Meetings of such Committee are held as and when called for.

13. Long Term Credit Cell
The Cell is headed by 1 Additional RCS who is assisted by 3 Deputy RCS, 2 Assistant RCS and 2 CDOs.
The Long Term Credit Cell of Co-operation Directorate looks after the Long Term Co-operative Credit Sector (LTCCS) of West Bengal. The Apex society in the LTCCS is West Bengal State Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ltd. (WBSCARDB) and at the primary level, there are 24 Primary Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (PCARDBs) operating in 19 Ranges, apart from 2 Branches of WBSCARDB Ltd. operating in Darjeeling and Purulia Ranges and 1 Urban Branch serving Kolkata Range. These Primary CARDBs (including 2 rural branches of the Apex) mainly provide agricultural finance to the rural farmers by issuing long term and medium term loans. Besides, they issue the non-farm loans and housing loans. The main source of fund of these CARDBs is NABARD, HUDCO and NHB through from the WBSCARDB Ltd. Funds are also mobilized though floatation of debentures by WBSCARDB Ltd. under the guarantee of the State Government. The main functions of the Cell are to ensure that the institutions under the LTCCS are governed as per the relevant provisions of the WBCS Act, 1983 and the WBCS Rules, 1987 and to deal with financial proposals of the LTCCS including State Share under National Rural Credit (Long Term Operation) from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and subsidy under different schemes like Interest Subsidy Scheme, Risk Fund etc. on the basis of recommendation from the ARCS' of the Ranges and to arrange for disbursement of the funds sanctioned and released to the beneficiaries through the Range Offices concerned.

14. Marketing and Processing Cell
The Marketing & Processing Cell is headed by 1 Additional RCS who is assisted by 1 Joint RCS, 2 Deputy RCS and 5 CDOs.
The function of this Cell is to look after the affairs of the Apex and Primary Marketing, Agro-processing, Rice Mill, Cold Storage and Horticulture Co-operative Societies as per provisions of the WBCS Act, 1983 and the WBCS Rules, 1987, disposal of proposals for financial assistance (in the shape of State Share, Government Loan or Subsidy) of the said types of Societies as well as for the Primary Co-operative Credit Societies (PACS) for creation of infrastructure for marketing of agricultural produces and allied commodities for construction / repair / renovation / technological upgradation of cold storages, rice mills and other agro-process units, construction/ repair / renovation / completion of rural and main godowns, setting up of mini cold storages for preservation of fruits and vegetables, setting up of jute baling presses, Margin Money or Working Capital under Co-operative Farmers’ Service Centre or other State Plan / NCDC-sponsored schemes, Computerisation Assistance for Co-operatives etc. on the basis of recommendation of the Assistant RCS' of the concerned Ranges, problems/ solutions / status pertaining to distribution of agricultural inputs like fertilizer, seeds, plant protection chemicals, fodders etc., implementation of different Government schemes like procurement of jute or paddy or potato through State level Co-operative Societies, preservation of the fruits and vegetables through Cold Storage and other storing processes, Capital Investment Subsidy Schemes percolated by the Government of India through NCDC or NHB and allied activities. The Cell also looks after special Schemes for the agriculture and rural development like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and Jute Technology Mission (JTM).

15. Monitoring Cell – RKVY & ICDP
The Cell is headed by 1 Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies, who is designated as the Project Monitoring Officer (PMO). The Cell deals with supervision and monitoring of all the on-going Integrated Co-operative Development Projects and the schemes under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as well as co-ordination between the schemes and dovetailing of the assistances made under the two programmes.

16. Planning & Development (P&D) Cell
The P&D Cell is headed by 1 JRCS who is assisted by 2 ARCS', 3CDOs and 2 Inspectors of CS. This Cell acts as a co-ordinator of various Cells of the Co-operation Directorate and the Co-operation Department, Government of West Bengal as well as the Ranges under the Directorate for development of the co-operative sector. The Cell reviews and prepares Broad Sheet replies to the queries put up in the Inspection Reports of the Auditor General office. The Cell prepares consolidated Annual Plans and Budgets for the Co-operative Sector in the State and monitors proper utilization of different Government Grants / Subsides / Loans etc.

17. Rajarhat Township Area Housing (RTAH) Cell
The Cell is at present housed at Gate No.3, Yuba Bharati Stadium, Ramp No.19, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700091. The Cell is headed by 1 DRCS who is assisted by 1 ARCS, 7 CDOs and 3 Inspectors of CS and supporting staff like 1 Head Clerk, 2 UDCs, 1 LDC, 1 Stenographer, 2 Typists and 3 Group-D employees. The Cell deals with registration, inspection, enquiry and exercise of all the statutory powers, duties and obligations entrusted on the Registrar under the WBCS Act, 1983 or the WBCS Rules, 1987 in respect of the Primary Housing Co-operative Societies formed within the jurisdiction of New Town, Rajarhat.

18. Self-Help Groups & Women Empowerment Cell
The Cell is headed by 1 DRCS who is assisted 1 CDO. This Cell has been created in 2009 for the purpose of providing focussed attention to monitoring of the activities of the Self-Help Groups formed under the co-operative sector in the State and uplift the socio-economic condition of the women section of the community (particularly the women section of the SHGs). The different tiers of the STCCS and the LTCCS act as the facilitators and they provide an alternative credit delivery against the thrift of the members of the Self Help Groups. This subsidy-less voluntary small savings scheme has opened a new chapter in the field of women empowerment as 90% SHGs are women groups.
Other functions of this Cell are

to act as a co-ordinating agency between the SHGs and the different tiers of the STCCS and the LTCCS
to formulate plans and schemes for marketing to SHG products
to maintain the Range-wise statistics of the SHGs
to arrange for / co-ordinate with need-based training programmes for SHG-members sponsored by various agencies.
to circulate / implement various schemes approves by SHG & SE Department, ARD Department, Agriculture and P&RD Department.
to organize gender sensitization programmes for the women co-operators
to encourage habit of saving among women.
to keep close liaison with all the line Departments and Directorates for smooth discharge of the afore-said functions.
19. Short Term Credit Cell
The Cell is headed by 1 Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies, who is assisted by 1 Joint RCS, 2 Deputy RCS, 2 ARCS,2 CDOs ,1 Inspector of CS AND 1 LDC. The Cell looks after the activities of the Short Term Co-operative Credit Structure (comprising around 6000 PACS at the Primary Level, 17 Central Co-operative Banks at the Central Level and The West Bengal State Co-operative Bank Ltd. at the Apex Level which also functions as the Central Financing Agency for the PACS in 3 Ranges where there are no CCBs), proposals for financial assistance for the STCCS, inspection, enquiry, supervision and monitoring of the STCCS and performs other statutory duties and exercises powers in respect of the STCCS in accordance with the WBCS Act, 1983 and the WBCS Rules,1987. The financial proposals dealt by the Cell include State Share under National Rural Credit (Long Term Operation) from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and subsidy under different schemes like Universal Membership, Interest Subvention and Risk Fund on the basis of recommendation from the ARCS' of the Ranges and disbursement of the funds sanctioned and released to the beneficiaries through the Range Offices, the Central Co-operative Banks or The West Bengal State Co-operative Bank Ltd.

20. Urban Credit Cell
The Cell is headed by 1 Additional RCS who is assisted by 1 Joint RCS, Deputy RCS, 1 Assistant RCS, 1 CDO and 1 Inspector of CS. The Cell looks after functioning of the Urban Co-operative Credit Sector (UCCS), presently comprising 48 Urban Co-operative Bankks(UCBs), 112 Primary Urban Co-operative Credit Societies (PUCCS), 48 Women’s Co-operative Credit Societies (WCCS) and 6207 Employees’ Co-operative Credit Societies (ECCS) as per provisions of the WBCS Act, 1983 and the WBCS Rules, 1987. The UCCS plays a vital role in bringing about socio-economic changes in Urban and Semi-Urban areas. The performance of Primary Urban Co-operative Credit Societies (including Women Credit Societies)/ Banks is as important as in other credit sectors in issuing loans for various purposes, including housing loan and consumption loan. The Employees’ Co-operative Credit Societies (ECCS) also, in a similar way, act for the benefit for the members of the society who happen to be employees of any Government / Semi-Government / Non-Government establishments. Apart from providing support to the members belonging to middle class, lower-income groups and marginal groups of the society, the Urban Co-operative Banks also have been rendering services by way of mobilizing deposits and issuing financial support in the form of loans in accordance with the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (As Applicable to Co-operative Societies). While the Cell monitors the administrative affairs of the UCBs with the help of subordinate offices at Zone / Range level the Reserve Bank of India monitors their financial affairs through inspection, enquiry, reporting system etc.

In order to uplift the Socio-economic condition of the women in our society, the matter of providing financial assistance in the shape of loan, share and grant under the State Plan Budget is being considered by the Government to boost up the working condition of Women Co-operatives. The Government signed a “MoU” on 08/08/2007 with the Reserve Bank of India for revival and rejuvenation of the UCBs. An Expert Committee was also formed in June, 2008 to suggest probable measures for the uplift of weak Urban Co-operative Banks. The Committee submitted its report in February, 2009. The State Government has accepted the recommendation of the Expert Committee in principle. With a view to aiming at revival of weak UCBs the matter of providing financial assistances in the shape of Grants-in-Aid under State Plan is being considered by the Government and the Department has proposed to open a new scheme under the State Plan “Assistance for Revival of Urban Co-op. Banks”.

21. Vehicle Cell
The Vehicle Cell is headed by 1 DRCS. The Cell looks after repair and maintenance of the Government vehicles used by the Co-operation Directorate (Head Quarters) and its subordinate offices at Zone and Range level and also deals with the issues related to hiring of cars by the said offices.

22. Vigilance Cell
The Cell is at present headed by Dr. Aariz Aftab, IAS, Registrar of Co-operative Societies, West Bengal & Vigilance Officer appointed by the Vigilance Commission, West Bengal. He is assisted by 1 ARCS and 1 Inspector of CS. The Cell looks after vigilance cases pertaining to the Government employees of different ranks posted in the Co-operation Directorate (Head Quarters) and its subordinate offices at Zone and Range level.




Besides the above Cells there are 4 Sections in the Co-operation Directorate (Head Quarters). The Personal Assistant to the RCS, West Bengal, is the over-all in-charge of all these Sections and he is the Drawing and Disbursing Officer of the Co-operation Directorate. These are:-
Accounts Section
The Section is headed by 1 Head Clerk who is assisted by UDCs / Cashier/ LDCs and 1 Cash Sarkar. The Section performs all the accounting jobs related to the Co-operation Directorate (Head Quarters) including drawing and disbursement of Salary bills, T.A. bills, bills related to maintenance and repair of vehicles, all contingent bills and all bills related to the Government Orders sanctioning assistances to the co-operative societies authorising the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, West Bengal, to draw the sanctioned amounts and maintains liaison with the Pay & Accounts Office at Kolkata and the Treasuries in the districts.

Establishment Section
The Section is headed by 1 Head Clerk who is assisted by UDCs and LDCs. The Section maintains the service and allied records of all the officers and staff of the Co-operation Directorate (Head Quarters), including the officers deputed to co-operative institutions on foreign service terms and the general service matters of the employees appointed by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, West Bengal and posted in the Directorate H.Q. and different Zone/ Range offices (viz., Inspectors of CS, Head Clerks, UDCs, LDCs, Drivers etc.).

Record Section
The Section is headed by 1 Head Clerk who is assisted by UDCs and LDCs as well as 3 Record Suppliers, 2 Muharrirs (Grade-I) and 3 Muharrirs (Grade-II). The Section maintains the files of all the Cells and all other Sections classified into Collections I (files related to co-operative societies), II (personal files and budget / accounts matters) and IV (subject-oriented and law files) – Collection-III files pertaining to the audit of co-operative societies having been transferred to the Co-operative Audit Directorate at the time of its cessation from the Co-operation Directorate in 1988.

Type Section
This Section is responsible for typing the matters drafted and composed by different Cells and other Sections of the Co-operation Directorate and is manned by 2 Supervisory Grade Typists, 6 Grade-I Typists and 6 Typists.

As regards supporting staff, there are two other Head Clerks attached to the Consumers’ and Vigilance Cells. There are 6 stenographers (one of them acting as the Confidential Assistant to the RCS, West Bengal) and 1 Bengali Translator in the Co-operation Directorate, apart from 31 Upper Division Clerks (UDCs) and 15 Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) attached to the different Cells / Sections of the Co-operation Directorate (excluding KMAH & RTAH Cells and 43 Group-D employees attached to different Cells / Sections / Officers. There are 5 Drivers for running the Government vehicles of the Directorate.

Directorate of Cooperative Audit

The Directorate of Co-operative Audit was created in the year 1988 by way of separation from Directorate of Co-operation to ensure independent and transparent audit. This Directorate has twenty-one Range Offices excluding Directorate Headquarters having at present a sanction strength of 450 Auditor of Co-operative Societies, 225 Senior Auditor Grade-II, 75 Senior Auditor Grade-I, 14 Assistant Directors, 8 Deputy Directors,, 1 Additional Director and 1 Director. The present address of the Head Quarters of this Directorate is 11A, Mirza Ghalib Street, Western Block (3rd Floor), Kolkata-700 087.

The Directorate of Co-operative Audit, West Bengal is earmarked to achieve the goal of updating of audit of all auditable societies in this State and also to collect Government Revenue in the form of Audit Cess. In order to audit all Co-operatives including banks, Directorate is amply equipped with the modalities of Prudential Norms, Common Accounting System as applicable in the Banking Sector and Core Sector of the Co-operative movement in the State. Financial audit, performance and management audit of all co-operative societies are also being conducted by this Directorate as and when required. This Directorate has completed Statutory Audit of a CCB (Bankura CCB) in the first fortnight of April each year for last several years which is a sort of record acclaimed at national level by NABARD. Beside this quantitative achievement, this Directorate is also engaged in elevating qualitative and modern aspect of audit by means of organizing training and workshop. Government Exchequer in the last three years shows a steady growth through collection of cess which will be revealed from the information given below. Besides the foregoing achievements, Directorate of Co-operative Audit has also completed the total Special Audit Work in this State in all PACS and Banks in accordance with revival of STCCS Scheme in a record time span of two months only in the year 2007-08 which was also highly felicitated in the National level. Recently this Directorate has been entrusted with the responsibility of Internal Audit of 40 Municipalities and Corporations in the greater Calcutta area by Municipal Affairs Department. Apart from these purely technical activities, this Directorate supervises this state-wide Administration and Establishment network through 21 Range Offices of District Level for all employees of different categories under the control of this Directorate.

WB Cooperative Tribunal
The Government of West Bengal has constituted the West Bengal Co-operative Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals arising out of the following orders:-

Final order of division or transfer of assets and liabilities of a co-operative society u/S. 19 of the Act
Final order of amalgamation or reorganization of co-operative societies u/S. 20 of the Act
Order of dissolution of a board of directors or disqualification of directors thereof u/S. 29 of the Act
Order dissolving a board and appointing administrator u/S. 30 of the Act
Order of the Registrar in an appeal u/S.85(9) of the Act in the matter of transfer of flat in a co-operative housing society
Decision or order of a co-operative housing society on an application u/S. 89 of the Act in the matter of letting out of the flat
Order , decision, or award made u/S. 96 and u/S. 98 of the Act
Order of winding up of a co-operative society u/S. 99 of the Act
Order , decision, or award made by a liquidator u/S.101 of the Act
Order of Registrar u/S. 129 of the Act for payment of compensation or restoration of property
Order made by Registrar u/S. 130 of the Act for payment of penalty
Order made by Registrar u/S. 131 of the Act for payment of fine
The Tribunal sits and conducts its hearing at 3rd floor New Secretariat Buildings at 1 Kiran Sankar Roy Road, Kolkata 700001.The tribunal consists of two members appointed from the cadre of the West Bengal Higher Judicial Service and has jurisdiction over affairs of all the co-operative societies having registered offices within the territory of the state. The tribunal

exercises all the powers conferred upon an Appellate Court by Order XLI in the first schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908;
has the power to review its own order if application is made for review by the person aggrieved within ninety days from the date of such order on one or more of the grounds specified in rule 1 of Order XLVII of the Code of Civil Procedure,1908;
has the power to make interlocutory orders in an appeal or an application for review;
has the power to hold its sittings at any place within its jurisdiction for the convenience of the parties concerned after previous notice to them; and
has the power to make regulation laying down its own procedure with the previous approval of the State Government.
The daily affairs of the tribunal are looked after by the Secretary appointed from the State Cadre of the West Bengal Co-operative Service. He performs the following functions:-

registers the appeal or application for review;
issues notices to the parties for rectification of defects found in the appeal or application for review and if the defects are not removed within a stipulated time, places the matter before the Tribunal;
issues notices on all the parties to appear before the Tribunal for hearing and calls for original records from the offices of the Registrar, the State Government or co-operative society as the case may be; and
issues certified copies of the orders made, decision or judgments delivered by the Tribunal.


WB Cooperative Registration Council


WB Cooperative Registration Council
The Co-operation Department of the Government of West Bengal has constituted the Co-operative Registration Council consisting of a Chairman and two other members - one nominated by the State Government and other by West Bengal State Co-operative Union. The Chairman of the Co-operative Tribunal of the State is the Chairman of the Registration Council also. The Council has jurisdiction throughout West Bengal and has the powers to decide the following matters:-

To consider and dispose of cases of application for registration of co-operative societies which have either been refused by Registrar or not registered by him within the time frame as stipulated in section 13 of the Act;
To consider and dispose of appeal made by the Chief Promoter / Applicant of a proposed Co-operative Society in case he does not receive any information from Registrar after expiry of the time limit allowed to Registrar to decide and dispose of the application for registration u/S. 13 of the Act; and
To consider and dispose of appeal arising out of a decision of the Registrar refusing registration of any amendment of by-laws of a co-operative society.
The Chief promoter/Applicant of the proposed cooperative society may himself present the case before the council without assistance of any legal person.
The Secretary of the Co-operative Tribunal is appointed by the State Government and the minimum qualification for appointment to the post is that the officer should at least be a member of the State Junior Co-operative Service and served as such for a minimum period of 5 years. Presently the Secretary of the Co-operative Tribunal is also acting as the Secretary of the Council. He is responsible performing such duties as assigned to him by the Council.

Two members form the quorum for holding a meeting of the Council. The meeting of the Council examines the cases placed before it and its decision in case of refusal is communicated to the Chief Promoter / Applicant in case of registration of proposed society and to the society in case of amendment of by-laws. In all other cases the Registrar is advised to register the society or amend the by-laws of the society as the case may be.

The Secretary of the Council is responsible for maintaining the following registers:-

Register for references received from the Registrar in the matter of refusal of registration or inability to register within stipulated time frame
Register for appeals filed by Chief Promoters / Applicants in the matter of registration of societies
Register for appeals filed by the Co-operative Societies against refusal of the Registrar in the matter of registration of amendment of bylaws
Register of miscellaneous letters received
Register of letters issued
Minute book for the meetings of the Council.

And WB Cooperative Service Commission

The West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1983, along with the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Rules, 1987, came into effect on and from the 1st day of August, 1987 by virtue of G.O. No. 3141-Coop. dated 30/07/1987. Under sub-section (1) of Section 38 of the said Act, the Government of West Bengal was empowered to constitute a Co-operative Service Commission and appoint “a person who has been or is a Judge of the High Court at Calcutta or a person who holds or has held a post not below the rank of a Secretary to the State Government” its Chairman for a term of three years, provided that “the State Government may extend the term of his office for a period not exceeding one year”. Section 38 was supplemented through Rule 66 of the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Rules, 1987. But in terms of the said G.O. dated 30/07/1987, this Section was kept inoperative until further orders.

With the concurrence of the Finance Department vide their U/O No. Group P (Service) No. 3340 dated 24/12/1998, the Co-operation Department, issued Notification No. 4115-Coop/E/19C-I/95 dated 28/12/1998 to the effect that pay and allowances of the staff of Co-operative Service Commission, West Bengal, would be governed by the provisions of the West Bengal Service (ROPA) Rules, 1998. Accordingly the Commission’s employees have been enjoying the same pay and allowances as those of the State Government employees.

With the concurrence of the Group ‘P’ Service of the Finance Department under their U.O. No.740 dated 24/02/2011, the Co-operation Department issued Order No. 582-Coop/E/2E-17/93 dated 01/03/2011, to the effect that the officers and employees of the Co-operative Service Commission was given status like the officers and employees of the Public Service Commission, West Bengal, with effect from 15/07/2009.

The West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 2006 (along with the Amendment enacted under the W.B. Act XX of 2010) and the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Rules, 2011 came into force with effect from the 18th January, 2011.

For details see attachment.