Section 56 of The Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Act to apply to co-operative societies subject to modifications.
Act to apply to co-operative societies subject to modifications. – [Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the provisions of this Act] shall apply to, or in relation to, co-operative societies as they apply to, or in relation to, banking companies subject to the following modifications, namely: –
(a) throughout this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, –
(i) references to a “banking company” or “the company” or “such company” shall be construed as references to a co-operative bank;
(ii) references to “commencement of this Act” shall be construed as references to commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965);
[(iii) references to “memorandum of association” or “articles of association” shall be construed as references to bye-laws;
(iv) references to the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, except in Part III and Part IIIA, shall be construed as references to the corresponding provisions, if any, of the law under which a co-operative bank is registered;
(v) references to “Registrar” or “Registrar of Companies” shall be construed as references to “Central Registrar” or “Registrar of Co-operative Societies”, as the case may be, under the law under which a co-operative bank is registered;]
(b) in section 2, the words and figures “the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), and” shall be omitted;
(c) in section 5,-
[(i) after clause (cc), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:-
(cci) “Co-operative bank” means a state co-operative bank, a central co-operative bank and a primary co-operative bank;
(ccii) “co-operative credit society” means a co-operative society, the primary object of which is to provide financial accommodation to its members and includes a co-operative land mortgage bank;
[(ccii-a) “co-operative society” means a society registered or deemed to have been registered under any Central Act for the time being in force relating to the multi-State co-operative societies, or any other Central or State law relating to co-operative societies for the time being in force;]
(cciii) “director”, in relation to a co-operative society, includes a member of any committee or body for the time being vested with the management of the affairs of that society;
[(cciii-a) “multi-State co-operative bank” means a multi-State co-operative society which is a primary co-operative bank;
(cciii-b) “multi-State co-operative society” means a multi-State co-operative society registered as such under any Central Act for the time being in force relating to the multi-State co-operative societies but does not include a national co-operative society and a federal co-operative;]
(cciv) “primary agricultural credit society” means a co-operative society,-
(i) the primary object or principal business of which is to provide financial accommodation to its members for agricultural purposes or for purposes connected with agricultural activities (including the marketing of crops); and
(ii) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as a member:
Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose;
(ccv) “primary co-operative bank” means a co-operative society, other than a primary agricultural credit society,-
(i) the primary object or principal business of which is the transaction of banking business;
(ii) the paid-up share capital and reserves of which are not less than one lakh of rupees; and
(iii) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as a member:
Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose;
(ccvi) “primary credit society” means a co-operative society, other than a primary agricultural credit society,-
(i) the primary object or principal business of which is the transaction of banking business;
(ii) the paid-up share capital and reserves of which are less than one lakh of rupees; and
(iii) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as a member:
Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose.
Explanation .-If any dispute arises as to the primary object or principal business of any co-operative society referred to in clauses (cciv), (ccv) and (ccvi), a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final;
(ccvii) “central co-operative bank”, [* * *], “primary rural credit society” and “State co-operative bank” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981 (61 of 1981);]
[(ii) clauses (ff), (h) and (nb) shall be omitted].
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(e) in section 6, in sub-section (1), –
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(ii) in clause (d), after the word “company”, the words “co-operative society,” shall be inserted;
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[(f) for section 7, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
“7. Use of words “bank”, “banker” or “banking”.-(1) No co-operative society other than a co-operative bank shall use as part of its name or in connection with its business any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking”, and no co-operative society shall carry on the business of banking in India unless it uses as part of its name at least one of such words.
(2) Nothing in this section apply to-
(a) a primary credit society, or
(b) a co-operative society formed for the protection of the mutual interest of co-operative banks [***], or
(c) any co-operative society, not being a primary credit society, formed by the employees of-
(i) a banking company or the State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank or a subsidiary bank of such banking company, State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank, or
(ii) a co-operative bank or a primary credit society [***], insofar as the word “bank”, “banker” or “banking” appears as part of the name of the employer bank, or as the case may be, of the bank whose subsidiary the employer bank is”.];
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(h) for section 11, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
“11. Requirement as to minimum paid-up capital and reserves.-(1) Notwithstanding any law relating to co-operative societies for the time being in force, no co-operative bank shall commence or carry on the business of banking in India unless the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves is not less than one lakh of rupees:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to-
(a) any such bank which is carrying on such business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of three years from such commencement; or
(b) to a primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement, for a period of two years from the date it so becomes a primary co-operative bank or for such further period not exceeding one year, the Reserve Bank, having regard to the interests of the depositors of the primary co-operative bank, may think fit in any particular case to allow.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “value” means the real or exchangeable value and not the nominal value which may be shown in the books of the co-operative bank concerned.
(3) If any dispute arises in computing the aggregate value of the paid-up capital and reserves of any co-operative bank, a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final for the purposes of this section.”;
[(i) for section 12, the following section shall be substituted, namely: –
12. (1) A co-operative bank may, with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank, issue, by way of public issue or private placement, –
(i) equity shares or preference shares or special shares, on face value or at premium; and
(ii) unsecured debentures or bonds or other like securities with initial or original maturity of not less than ten years,
to any member of such co-operative bank or any other person residing within its area of operation, subject to such conditions and ceiling, limit or restriction on its issue or subscription or transfer, as may be specified by the Reserve Bank in this behalf.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, –
(i) no person shall be entitled to demand payment towards surrender of shares issued to him by a co-operative bank; and
(ii) a co-operative bank shall not withdraw or reduce its share capital, except to the extent and subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify in this behalf.]
[(j) for section 18, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
“18. Cash reserve.-(1) Every co-operative bank, not being a [a co-operative bank] for the time being included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) [(hereinafter referred to as a “scheduled co-operative bank”)], shall maintain in India by way of cash reserve with itself or by way of balance in a current account with the Reserve Bank or the State co-operative bank of the State concerned or by way of net balance in current accounts, or, in the case of a primary co-operative bank, with the central co-operative bank of the district concerned, or in one or more of the aforesaid ways, a sum equivalent to [such per cent.] of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India, as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight [as the Reserve Bank may specifY, by notification in the Official Gazette, from time to time having regard to the needs for securing the monetary stability in the country] and shall submit to the Reserve Bank before the fifteenth day of every month a return showing the amount so held on alternate Fridays during a month with particulars of its demand and time liabilities in India on such Fridays or if any such Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), at the close of business on the preceding working day.
Explanation. – In this section and in section 24-
(a) “liabilities in India” shall not include-
(i) the paid-up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the profit and loss account of the co-operative bank;
(ii) any advance taken from a State Government, the Reserve Bank, [***] the Exim Bank, [the Reconstruction Bank,] [the National Housing Bank,] the National Bank, [the Small Industries Bank] or from the National Co-operative Development Corporation established under section 3 of the National Co-operative Development Corporation Act, 1962 (26 of 1962) by the co-operative bank;
(iii) in the case of a State or central co-operative bank, also any deposit of money with it representing the reserve fund or any part thereof maintained with it by any other co-operative society within its area of operation, and in the case of a central co-operative bank, also an advance taken by it from the [Co-operative Bank] of the State concerned;
(iv) in the case of a primary co-operative bank, also any advance taken by it from the [Co-operative Bank] of the State concerned or the Central co-operative bank of the district concerned;
(v) in the case of any co-operative bank, which has granted an advance against any balance maintained with it, such balance to the extent of the amount outstanding in respect of such advance; and
(vi) in the case of any co-operative bank, the amount of any advance or other credit arrangement drawn and availed of against approved securities;
(b) “fortnight” shall mean the period from Saturday to the second following Friday, both days inclusive;
(c) “net balance in current accounts” shall, in relation to a co-operative bank, mean the excess, if any, of the aggregate of the credit balances in current account maintained by that co-operative bank with the State Bank of India or a subsidiary bank or [a corresponding new bank or IDBI Bank Ltd.], over the aggregate of the credit balances in current accounts held by the said banks with such co-operative bank;
(d) for the purpose of computation of liabilities, the aggregate of the liabilities of a co-operative bank to the State Bank of India, a subsidiary bank, a corresponding new bank, a Regional Rural Bank, a banking company or any other financial institution notified by the Central Government in this behalf shall be reduced by the aggregate of the liabilities of all such banks and institutions to the co-operative bank;
(e) any cash with a co-operative bank or any balance held by a co-operative bank with another bank, shall not, to the extent such cash or such balances represents the balance in, or investment of, Agricultural Credit Stabilisation Fund of such co-operative bank, be deemed to be cash maintained in India.
[(1A) If the balance held by co-operative bank referred to in sub-clause (CCI) of clause (c) of section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, at the close of business on any day is below the minimum specified under sub-section (1), such co-operative bank shall, without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, be liable to pay to the Reserve Bank, in respect of that day, penal interest at a rate of three per cent. above the bank rate on the amount by which such balance falls short of the specified minimum, and if the shortfall continues further, the penal interest so charged shall be increased to a rate of five per cent. above the bank rate in respect of each subsequent day during which the default continues.
(IB) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, if the Reserve Bank is satisfied, on an application in writing by the defaulting co-operative bank, that such defaulting co-operative bank had sufficient cause for its failure to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1), it may not demand the payment of the penal interest.
(lC) The Reserve Bank may, for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified, grant to any co-operative bank such exemptions from the provisions of this section as it thinks fit with reference to all or any of its officers or with reference to the whole or any part of its assets and liabilities.];
(2) The Reserve Bank may, for the purposes of this section and section 24, specify from time to time, with reference to any transaction or class of transactions, that such transaction or transactions shall be regarded as liability in India of a co-operative bank, and, if any question arises as to whether any transaction or class of transactions shall be regarded for the purposes of this section and section 24, as liability in India of a co-operative bank, the decision of the Reserve Bank thereon, shall be final”;]
(k) for section 19, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
“19. Restriction on holding shares in other co-operative societies.-No co-operative bank shall hold shares in any other co-operative society except to such extent and subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify in that behalf:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to-
(i) shares acquired through funds provided by the State Government for that purpose;
(ii) in the case of a central co-operative bank, the holding of shares in the State co-operative bank to which it is affiliated;
(iii) in the case of a primary co-operative bank, the holding of shares in the central co-operative bank to which it is affiliated or in the State co-operative bank of the State in which it is registered:
Provided further that where any shares are held by a co-operative bank in contravention of this section at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), the co-operative bank shall without delay report the matter to the Reserve Bank and shall, notwithstanding anything contained in this section, be entitled to hold the shares for such period and on such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify”;
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[(m) in section 20-A, in sub-section (1),-
(i) the words and figures “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 293 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956),” shall be omitted;
(ii) in clause (a), for the words “any of its directors”, the words “any of its past or present directors” shall be substituted;]
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(o) in section 22, –
(i) for sub-sections (1) and (2), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:-
“(1) Save as hereinafter provided, no co-operative society shall carry on banking business in India unless-
(a) [***]
(b) it is a co-operative bank and holds a licence issued in that behalf by the Reserve Bank, subject to such conditions, if any, as the Reserve Bank may deem fit to impose:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a co-operative society, not being a primary credit society or a co-operative bank carrying on banking business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of one year from such commencement.
[Provided further that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a primary credit society carrying on banking business on or before the commencement of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012, for a period of one year or for such further period not exceeding three years, as the Reserve Bank may, after recording the reasons in writing for so doing, extend.];
[(2) Every co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965) shall before the expiry of three months from the commencement, every co-operative bank which comes into existence as a result of the division of any other co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank, or the amalgamation of two or more co-operative societies carrying on banking business shall, before the expiry of three months from its so coming into existence, [every primary credit society which had become a primary co-operative bank On or before the commencement of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012, shall before the expiry of three months from the date on which it had become a primary co-operative bank] and every co-operative society [***] shall before commencing banking business in India, apply in writing to the Reserve Bank for a licence under this section:
Provided that nothing in clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to prohibit-
(i) a co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965); or
(ii) a co-operative bank which has come into existence as a result of the division of any other co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank, or the amalgamation of two or more co-operative societies carrying on banking business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965) or at any time thereafter;
(iii) [***]
(ii) [sub-section (3-A) shall be omitted;
(iii) in sub-section (4), in clause (iii), the words, brackets, figures and letter “and sub-section (3-A)” shall be omitted;]
[22-A. Validation of licences granted by Reserve Bank to multi-State co-operative societies. – Notwithstanding anything contained in any law or, judgment delivered or decree or order of any Court made,-
(a) no licence, granted to a multi-State co-operative society by the Reserve Bank under section 22, which was subsisting on the date of commencement of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2004, shall be invalid or be deemed ever to have been invalid merely by the reason of such judgment, decree or order;
(b) every licence, granted to a multi-State co-operative society by the Reserve Bank under section 22, which was subsisting on the date of commencement of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2004, shall be valid and be deemed always to have been validly granted in accordance with law;
(c) a multi-State co-operative society whose application for grant of licence for carrying on banking business was pending with the Reserve Bank on the date of commencement of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2004 shall be eligible to carry on banking business until it is granted a licence in pursuance of section 22 or is, by a notice in writing notified by the Reserve Bank that the licence cannot be granted to it;]
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[ (q) in section 24, –
(i) in sub-section (1), the words “After the expiry of two years from the commencement of this Act”, shall be omitted;
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(iii) in sub-section (3), for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:-
“Provided that every co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank, shall also furnish within the said period, a copy of the said return to the National Bank.”;
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[(qq) after section 24, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-
“24-A. Power to exempt .-Without prejudice to the provisions of section 53, the Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that, for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notification the whole or any part of the provisions of section 18 or section 24, as may be specified therein, shall not apply to any co-operative bank or class of co-operative banks, with reference to all or any of the offices of such co-operative bank or banks, or with reference to the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of such co-operative bank or banks”.];
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[(ri) in the second proviso to section 26, for the expression “regional rural bank”, the expression “co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank” shall be substituted;
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(rii) in section 27, for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:-
“(3) Every co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank, shall submit a copy of the return which it submits to the Reserve Bank, under sub-section (1) also to the National Bank and the powers exercisable by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2) may also be exercised by the National Bank in relation to co-operative banks, other than primary co-operative banks.”;
(s) for [section 29], the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
“29. Accounts and balance-sheet .-(1) At the expiration of each year ending with the 30th days of June, [or at the expiration of a period of twelve months ending with such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf,] every co-operative bank, in respect of all business transacted by it, shall prepare with reference to that year [or the period] a balance-sheet and profit and loss account as on the last working day of the year [or the period] in the Forms set out in the Third Schedule as near thereto as circumstances admit:
(2) The balance-sheet and profit and loss account shall be signed by the manager or the principal officer of the bank and where there are more than three directors of the bank, by at least three of those directors, or where there are not more than three directors, by all the directors.
(3) The Central Government, after giving not less than three months’ notice of its intention so to do by a notification in the Official Gazette, may, from time to time by a like notification, amend the Forms set out in the Third Schedule:]
[Provided that with a view to facilitating the transition from one period of accounting to another period of accounting under this sub-section, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions as it considers necessary or expedient for the preparation of, or for other matters relating to, the balance-sheet or profit and loss account in respect of the concerned year or period, as the case may be.;]
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[(t) in section 31, –
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(ii) for the second proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:-
“Provided further that a co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank, shall furnish such returns also to the National Bank.”;]
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[(zaa) after section 36-AA of the principal Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:-
“36-AAA. Supersession of Board of directors of a [co-operative bank]. – (1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that in the public interest or for preventing the affairs of a [co-operative bank] being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors or of the [co-operative bank] or for securing the proper management of the [co-operative bank], it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, supersede the Board of directors of such [co-operative bank] for a period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order, which may be extended from time to time, so, however, that total period shall not exceed five years.
[Provided that in the case of a co-operative bank registered with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies of a State, the Reserve Bank shall issue such order in consultation with the concerned State Government seeking its comments, if any, within such period as the Reserve Bank may specify.]
(2) The Reserve Bank may, on supersession of the Board of directors of the [co-operative bank] under sub-section (1) appoint an Administrator for such period as it may determine.
(3) The Reserve Bank may issue such directions to the Administrator as it may deem appropriate and the Administrator shall be bound to follow such directions.
(4) Upon making the order of supersession of the Board of directors of a [co-operative bank],-
(a) the chairman, managing director and other directors as from the date of supersession of the Board shall vacate their offices as such;
(b) all the powers, functions and duties which may, by or under the provisions of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 (39 of 2002) or this Act or any other law for the time being in force, be exercised and discharged by or on behalf of the Board of directors of such a [co-operative bank] or by a resolution passed in general meeting of such co-operative bank, shall, until the Board of directors of such co-operative bank is reconstituted, be exercised and discharged by the Administrator appointed by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2):
Provided that the power exercised by the Administrator shall be valid notwithstanding that such power is exercisable by a resolution passed in the general meeting of such [co-operative bank].
(5)(a) The Reserve Bank may constitute a committee of three or more persons who have experience in law, finance, banking, administration or accountancy to assist the Administrator in discharge of his duties.
(b) The committee shall meet at such times and places and observe such rules of procedure as may be specified by the Reserve Bank.
(6) The salary and allowances to the Administrator and the members of the committee constituted by the Reserve Bank shall be such as may be specified by the Reserve Bank and be payable by the concerned [co-operative bank].
(7) On and before expiration of period of supersession of the Board of directors as specified in the order issued under sub-section (1), the Administrator of the [co-operative bank] shall call the general meeting of the society to elect new directors.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or in any contract, or bye-laws of a [co-operative bank], no person shall be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of his office.
(9) The Administrator appointed under sub-section (2) shall vacate office immediately after the Board of directors of the multi-State co-operative society has been constituted.
[(10) The provisions of section 36ACA shall not apply to a co-operative bank.]
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OLD LAW ▼
36-AAC. Reimbursement to the Deposit Insurance Corporation by liquidator or transferee bank. – Where a multi-State co-operative bank, being an insured bank within the meaning of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961 (47 of 1961), is wound up and the Deposit Insurance Corporation has become liable to the depositors’ of the insured bank under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 16 of that Act, the Deposit Insurance Corporation shall be reimbursed by the liquidator or such other person in the circumstances, to the extent and in the manner provided in section 21 of that Act.”;
(zab) in section 36-AD, sub-section (3) shall be omitted;”]
[(zb) Part IIC shall be omitted;]
[(zc) in section 46,-
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(ii) in clause (a) of the Explanation , after the words “includes a”, the words “co-operative society” shall be inserted;]
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(ze) section 49 shall be omitted;
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[(zg) in section 49B, references to “Central Government” shall be construed as references to “Central Registrar” or “Registrar of Co-operative Societies”, as the case may be, under the law under which a co-operative bank is registered;]
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(zi) section 51 shall be omitted;
[(zj) after section 53, the following section shall be inserted, namely: –
53A. Powers to exempt co-operative banks in certain cases. – Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, the Reserve Bank may, from time to time, on being satisfied that it is necessary so to do, declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, that the provisions of item (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) and sub-section (2), of section 10, clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 10A, sub-section (1A) of section 10B and clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 35B of this Act shall not apply to a co-operative bank or class of co-operative banks, either generally or for such period as may be specified therein, subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions as it may think fit to impose.]
[(zji) in section 54, after the expression “Reserve Bank”, wherever it occurs, the expression, “or the National Bank” shall be inserted;]
(zk) for section 55 and the First Schedule, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
“55. Act 18 of 1891 and Act 46 of 1949 to apply in relation to a co-operative banks.-(1) The Bankers Books Evidence Act, 1891 shall apply in relation to a co-operative bank as it applies in relation to a bank as defined in section 2 of that Act.
(2) The Banking Companies (Legal Practitioners’ Clients’ Accounts) Act, 1949 shall apply in relation to a co-operative bank as it applies in relation to a banking company as defined in section 2 of that Act.”;
(zl) for the Third Schedule and the Fourth Schedule, the following Schedule shall be substituted, namely:-]
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