Course Syllabus: Legal Environment for Co-operatives
Course Code: COM5EJ306 (3) • Academic Level: 300–399 • 4 Credits
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the legal foundations, regulatory frameworks, and governance structures that shape the operation and management of cooperative organizations. It covers statutory landmarks from 1904 to the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act 1969, registration, bylaws, elections, arbitration, liquidation, administrative hierarchies, de-officialisation, and the Banking Regulation Act 1949 as applicable to cooperative banks.
Course Outcomes (CO)
| CO | Course Outcome Statement | Cognitive Level* | Knowledge# | Evaluation Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO1 | Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal foundations of cooperatives, including relevant statutes and regulatory frameworks. | Understand (U) | Conceptual (C) | Examinations, Assignment |
| CO2 | Analyze cooperative laws and regulations, including incorporation requirements, governance structures, membership rights, and dissolution procedures. | Analyse (An) | Conceptual (C) | Examinations, Assignment |
| CO3 | Provide an insight into the prevailing cooperative legal system and departmental supervision mechanisms. | Analyse (An) | Conceptual (C) | Case study |
| CO4 | Apply the knowledge in analysing the legal setup and statutory governance of cooperative enterprises. | Apply (Ap) | Procedural (P) | Project |
* Cognitive Levels: Remember (R), Understand (U), Apply (Ap), Analyse (An), Evaluate (E), Create (C)
# Knowledge Categories: Factual Knowledge (F), Conceptual Knowledge (C), Procedural Knowledge (P), Metacognitive Knowledge (M)
Detailed Modular Syllabus
Cooperative Legislation
- Unit 1:Features and important landmarks in the history of co-operative legislation in India (2 Hours).
- Unit 2:Co-operative Credit Societies Act, 1904 (Features) — Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (Features) — Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (Features) (3 Hours).
- Unit 3:Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 1984 — Model Cooperative Societies Act, 1991 & 2002 (Features) (3 Hours).
- Unit 4:Recent Trends and Developments — Vaidyanathan Committee Report (2 Hours).
- Unit 5:Recent initiatives of Ministry of Cooperation (2 Hours).
Registration of Co-operative Societies
- Unit 5:Registration — Formalities, Bylaws — Model and its amendment — Formalities, Change of name and liability — Formalities (3 Hours).
- Unit 6:Membership formalities — Qualifications and disqualifications — Associate or nominal member — Qualifications and disqualifications of members of the Board (4 Hours).
- Unit 7:Election — Procedure — Settlement of disputes — Enquiry — Inspection — Supervision (3 Hours).
- Unit 8:Liquidation and its formalities (2 Hours).
- Unit 9:Board of Directors' meeting — Annual General Body meeting — Minutes — Quorum for the meetings — Removal and expulsion of members — Restrictions on holding shares (4 Hours).
- Unit 10:Privileges of cooperatives (2 Hours).
Administrative Set-Up of the Co-operative Department in Kerala
- Unit 11:Delegation of powers of Co-operative Department in Kerala (4 Hours).
- Unit 12:State and the co-operative movement in India (2 Hours).
- Unit 13:Role of state in the development of cooperatives — De-officialisation of the co-operative movement — Reconstructing cooperative administration (4 Hours).
Banking Regulation Act, 1949
- Unit 14:Salient Features of Banking Regulation Act 1949 (As applicable to co-operative societies) (4 Hours).
- Unit 15:Impact of Co-operative Law on co-operative management (4 Hours).
Open-Ended Module: Practical Applications & Case Studies
It is recommended to prepare syllabus of the fifth module of this course by ensuring a balance between theoretical exploration and practical application. Participants should not only understand cooperative theories but also be able to apply them in real-world scenarios.
- Emerging legal issues in co-operative law and federal jurisprudence.
- Co-operative succession planning and dissolution procedures.
- Conduct field visits and real-world legal case studies relating to primary and apex cooperatives.
Prescribed References & Textbooks
- Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 & Rules, 1969 (Bare Act with Amendments).
- Goyal, D.B., Co-operative Legislation: Trends and Dimensions.
- Mohanan, P.N., Co-operative Societies Laws in Kerala, Kerala State Publications.
- Trivedi, B.B., Law and Management of Co-operatives.
- Pillai, F.R. (ed.), Kerala Co-operative Societies Act.
Download Official Syllabus Notes (PDF)
Calicut University • FYUGP 2024 Syllabus
Ready to start learning?
Proceed to Module 1 notes or view all syllabus topics.