¹[85A. Co-operative Ombudsman.— (1) The Central Government shall appoint, one or more Cooperative Ombudsman with territorial jurisdiction for inquiring into the complaints made by any member of the multi-State co-operative societies regarding their deposits, equitable benefits of society’s functioning or any other issue affecting the individual rights of the concerned member, in such manner, as may be prescribed.

(2) The Co-operative Ombudsman shall, on receipt of a complaint, complete the process of inquiry and adjudicate within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the complaint and may issue necessary directions to the society during the course of inquiry and the society shall be bound to comply with the same within a period of one month from the date of issuance of such directions.

(3) The multi-State co-operative society aggrieved by any directions of the Ombudsman may file an appeal in such manner as may be prescribed, within a period of one month before the Central Registrar who shall decide the appeal within a period of forty-five days and the decision of the Central Registrar shall be final and binding:

Provided that the Central Registrar may entertain the appeal after the expiry of said period of one month, if he is satisfied that the society was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.

(4) The Ombudsman shall submit periodic reports to the Central Registrar of Co-operative Societies.

(5) The Co-operative Ombudsman while conducting the inquiry under sub-section (1), shall exercise the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, (5 of 1908)—

(a) for summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons;

(b) examining them on oath;

(c) discovery and production of books of account and other documents; and

(d) any other matter which may be prescribed.]

1. Ins. by s. 31, ibid. (w.e.f. 3-8-2023).