Welcome to Government of Haryana
The Objective and the role of Co-operation Department is to see that genuine Co-operatives are organized and managed on sound lines as per basic principles of Co-operation for the promotion of the economic interests, social betterment and welfare of the people and to render guidance and assistance for the development in the state.
Chief Minister of Haryana
Hon'ble Cooperation Minister, Haryana
Additional Chief Secretary , Cooperation, Haryana
Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Haryana
Cooperative Societies in Haryana are registered under the provisions of Section 8 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. Registration process of cooperative societies is done through the online portal of RCS Department (https://cooponline.rcsharyana.gov.in/). Checklist for society registration is available on the department’s website under the tab ‘Society Corner’ where other such details are also available.
As the process of Society registration is conducted through the online portal of RCS Department (https://cooponline.rcsharyana.gov.in/), all forms for the registration of the society are available upon login to the above portal.
Registration process of cooperative societies is done in online mode through the online portal of RCS Department (https://cooponline.rcsharyana.gov.in/). However, if more information is required regarding the process, the concerned field office of Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies can be contacted.
Conditions of membership to a cooperative society are clearly laid down in Section 16 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. Membership is also subject to bye-laws of the concerned society and guidelines laid down by the government and Worthy Registrar Cooperative Societies Haryana from time to time.
Registrar or persons exercising the powers of the Registrar under the provisions of Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 and Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules, 1989 serves as the chief authority responsible for the registration, regulation, and supervision of cooperative societies. The Registrar ensures that societies function in accordance with the law, oversees their financial and administrative management, conducts audits and inspections, resolves disputes, supervises elections of managing committees, and may order dissolution when necessary. Overall, the Registrar upholds transparency, accountability, and efficient governance within the cooperative movement.
Only cooperative societies registered under Section 8 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 fall under the jurisdiction of Registrar Cooperative Societies. Though there is no exhaustive list of the kinds of cooperative societies, some of the kinds of cooperative societies presently registered in Haryana include Multipurpose Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (MPACS), Cooperative Marketing Societies (CMS), Multi Purpose Cooperative Societies (MP), Labour & Construction Cooperative Societies (LC), Cooperative Group Housing Societies (CGHS), Cooperative House Building Societies (CHBS), Industrial Cooperative Societies, Transport Cooperative Societies, etc.
Cooperative Societies are registered under the provisions of Section 8 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 according to which the timeline for registration of a cooperative society is mentioned as one month from the date of receipt of the application for registration. However, as per the Notification issued by General Administrative Department, Government of Haryana dated 27th October 2020 (No. 7/31/2014-3AR.), Online Registration of Cooperative Societies has now been brought under the purview of services listed under the Right to Service Commission Haryana and the stipulated time has been listed as 03 (three) days. Copy of the notification is available at https://haryana-rtsc.gov.in/storage/app/notified-service/Gap02ovNmhmfuBMJtNRWAgpnc70pylEg4O2FjXK3.pdf.
Registrar Cooperative Societies and persons authorized to exercise the powers of RCS Haryana under The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 are the authorities responsible for resolution of complaints and disputes as per the provisions of the Act of 1984, Rules of 1989, Bye-laws & Service Rules of the society and departmental guidelines. Complaints can directly be addressed to the authority having the jurisdiction of the society in offline or online mode. All complaints received directly, through higher authorities or online portals of the government such as CM-Window, Jan Samvaad, CPGRAMS, SMGT, etc. are routed to the offices having jurisdiction of the complaint received and are duly dealt with in compliance of the law.
The cooperative principles are internationally accepted guidelines that define how cooperatives operate and uphold their values. They were first formulated by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and are followed in India under the Cooperative Societies Acts as well.
Here are the seven cooperative principles:
Any cooperative society registered in Haryana is subject to the provisions of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, The Haryana Cooperative Societies, Rules, 1989, Service Rules and Bye-laws of the Cooperative Society and departmental guidelines issued from time to time.
Legally, the objectives of any cooperative societies are clearly defined under their bye-laws. However, broadly, the objective of any cooperative society is to promote the economic and social welfare of its members through collective effort, mutual help, and democratic management in compliance with the legal framework that applies to cooperative societies.
The Cooperative Department, Haryana, aims to promote and strengthen the cooperative movement across the state as an effective tool for socio-economic development. The department works to encourage the formation and growth of cooperative societies in sectors such as agriculture, credit, housing, dairy, and consumer services. Its primary objectives are to ensure financial stability, transparency, and democratic functioning of cooperatives; provide financial and technical assistance; and promote cooperative education and training. By supporting cooperative institutions at all levels, the department seeks to empower members, enhance rural livelihoods, and contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Haryana.
Yes, the Registrar under Section 8 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 can refuse to register a society. However, as per the provisions of Section 8(2), where the Registrar refuses to register a society, he/she shall communicate within a period of one month from the date of receipt of the application for registration, the order of refusal together with the reasons thereof to such of the applicants as may be prescribed.
The bye-laws of the society provide for important information of the society including its name, address, area of operation, etc. As per the provisions of Section 9A of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, the power to make bye-laws is vested with the cooperative society itself subject to the approval of the Registrar. Amendment of bye-laws of the society may allow for change in the information listed in the bye-laws of the Society in accordance with the provisions mentioned in Section 10 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.
Provisions regarding application for membership, eligibility, rights of members, disqualification grounds, etc. are covered in detail in Section 16 to 24 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 and Rule 14 to 22 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules, 1989.
An applicant who has been refused membership is entitled to receive the written decision of the society containing reasons for the rejection of his application as per the provisions of Rule 17 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules, 1989. For any grievances, the applicant may approach the concerned field office for resolution.
Rights and Liabilities of members of a cooperative society are listed under Section 16 to 24 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 and Rule 14 to 22 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules, 1989. In case of any disputes/denial of services, the concerned field office may be approached who shall resolve such disputes in accordance with the law.
| Aspect | Cooperative Society | Private Company |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | To promote the economic and social welfare of members through mutual help and service. | To earn profit for shareholders or owners. |
| Ownership | Owned and controlled by its members, who are also users or beneficiaries. | Owned by shareholders or investors who may not use its services. |
| Control & Voting | Democratic control — one member, one vote, regardless of capital contribution. | Voting power based on shareholding — one share, one vote. |
| Profit Distribution | Surplus is distributed among members based on participation or retained for development. | Profits are distributed as dividends according to shareholding. |
Rights and Liabilities of members of a cooperative society are listed under Section 16 to 24 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 and Rule 14 to 22 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules, 1989. In case of any disputes/denial of services, the concerned field office may be approached who shall resolve such disputes in accordance with the law.
Yes, a member can withdraw from membership in accordance with the provisions of Rule 18 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules, 1989 and bye-laws of the concerned cooperative society.
Joining a cooperative society offers members the advantage of collective strength, fair access to goods and services, and equitable sharing of benefits. It promotes economic self-reliance, democratic participation, and social security while encouraging mutual support and community development. Through cooperation, members can achieve both individual and collective progress in a transparent and accountable manner.
Strength of the Managing Committee of the Society shall be as such prescribed in the bye-laws of the society. As per the provisions of Section 28 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, the tenure of the Managing Committee of a society shall be five years from the date of election, unless superseded earlier by the Registrar.
Elections to the Managing Committee of a cooperative society are governed by the provisions of Section 28 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. Appendix A of the The Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules 1989 stipulates the complete procedure to be followed for conduct of elections to various kinds of societies.
As per the provisions of Section 28(2), the election process once started shall not be postponed and disputes, if any, pertaining to the election, shall be entertained after the completion of the election process, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 1984. Any dispute arising in connection with the election of any officer of the society is deemed to be a dispute for arbitration as per Section 102(2)(c). The concerned field office can be contacted for resolution of the dispute.
Various schemes are launched by the Government of Haryana for financial assistance to cooperative societies. A list of active schemes can be viewed on the official website of RCS Haryana under the tab of ‘Schemes and Policies.’
As of 11.04.2025, only the service of online registration of cooperative societies is covered under the provisions of Right to Service Act for which the time period is listed as 03 days.
The cooperative movement in India began with the Cooperative Credit Societies Act of 1904, introduced to relieve farmers from debt and promote self-help through collective effort. Initially focused on rural credit, it later expanded into sectors like dairy, housing, and consumer services. After Independence, cooperatives became an essential part of India’s development strategy, fostering economic inclusion and community empowerment.
Some of the institutions working for the Development of the Cooperative Movement in India
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) – Established in 1963 under an Act of Parliament, it finances, plans, and promotes cooperative projects in sectors like agriculture, marketing, processing, dairy, fisheries, and rural industries.
National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) – The apex organization representing the entire cooperative movement in India; it promotes cooperative education, training, research, and coordination among cooperatives.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) – Provides financial and policy support to cooperative banks and rural credit institutions, strengthening cooperative credit and agricultural development.
National Federation of State Cooperative Banks (NAFSCOB) – Coordinates and promotes the interests of state cooperative banks and supports the cooperative credit structure.
National Cooperative Housing Federation of India (NCHF) – Promotes and supports cooperative housing societies across the country through technical and financial guidance.
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) – Promotes dairy cooperatives and implements programmes like Operation Flood, which transformed India into the world’s largest milk producer.
State Cooperative Departments and Registrars of Cooperative Societies – Responsible for registration, regulation, supervision, and promotion of cooperatives at the state level.
Institute of Cooperative Managements (ICMs) and National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT) – Provide professional education and training to cooperative personnel through a nationwide network.
Any cooperative society registered in Haryana is subject to the provisions of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, The Haryana Cooperative Societies, Rules, 1989, Service Rules and Bye-laws of the Cooperative Society and departmental guidelines issued from time to time.
Management of the society vests with its Managing Committee and its General Body. The roles and responsibilities of the Managing Committee and General Body are contained in the bye-laws of the concerned society. General provisions regarding these are contained in The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 and The Haryana Cooperative Societies, Rules, 1989.
Some of the financial resources that can be utilized to operationalize a cooperative society include share capital, membership deposits, savings, loans, borrowings, government grants & subsidies, reserves & surplus, membership fees, etc.
The bye-laws of the society provide for important information of the society including its name, address, area of operation, etc. As per the provisions of Section 9A of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, the power to make bye-laws is vested with the cooperative society itself subject to the approval of the Registrar. Amendment of bye-laws of the society may allow for change in the information listed in the bye-laws of the Society in accordance with the provisions mentioned in Section 10 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.
Forming a cooperative society enables individuals to pool resources, share profits fairly, and work collectively for mutual benefit. It promotes economic self-reliance, fair access to goods and credit, and democratic decision-making, while protecting members from exploitation and fostering community development.
Members need to pay admission fees and prescribe to the minimum number of shares as prescribed in the bye-laws of the society at the time of its registration.
No. As per the provisions of Section 16(a) of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, no person shall be admitted as a member of a cooperative society if he’s not competent to contract under Section 11 of The Indian Contract Act, 1872. The relevant section of The Indian Contract Act, 1872 clearly states that only such persons are competent to contract who are of the age of majority.
Yes. In accordance with Section 25 & 26 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, Rule 23 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Rules 1989 and the bye-laws of the societies, it is mandatory to hold AGM every year.
As per the provisions of Section 26(3) of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 if a General Body Meeting/Annual General Meeting is not held within the period as specified in sub-section (3) of Section 25, or the requirements of Section 26(1) are not complied with, the Registrar shall, after giving an opportunity of being heard, declare the members of the committee disqualified for continuing as members of such committee and for being elected as members of the committee of any society, for a period of five years; and if the default is committed by an office bearer or an employee of the society, the Registrar may, after giving him an opportunity of being heard, impose on him, a fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees.
No. The agendas for the purpose of GBM/AGM shall be as specified in Section 25(3) and the bye-laws of the society.
An appeal shall lie under the provisions of Section 114 of The Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 against the order of the Registrar made under the sections specified in Section 114(1). The timeline and concerned authorities are listed in Section 114(2).
