transfer of shares of co-operative housing society

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Transfer of Shares to Nominee/s or Legal Heirs in case of death of a Member in a Co-operative Housing Society.
On death of a member in a Co-operative Housing Society, the most important
issue which arises is, as to who will success to the shares and interest of the
deceased member in capital / property of society. Practically, majority of
disputes in Co-operative Housing Societies relate to this issue.
The Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 and Maharashtra Cooperative
Societies Rules, 1961 provides two options namely; (1). Transfer to
Nominee of the deceased member and (2). Transfer to the Leal Heirs of the
deceased member. Standard Byelaws of Co-operative Housing Societies
provide procedure under Byelaws 34 and 35.
Usually, on demise of a member his/her nominees or legal heirs expect the
society to transfer share certificate to them or some of them and submit a
copy of death certificate to the society. Most of the times, the society does not
advise such nominees/ legal heirs about the procedure to follow. There cannot
be any justifiable reasons for such approach of the societies. May be many of
the office bearers may not be aware of correct procedure to be followed. The
matters remain pending for years and some fine morning the nominees / legal
heirs come up with complaints about society not having acted on their
requests.
At the outset let me make it clear that if the procedure prescribed under
Byelaws 34 or 35 is followed and the applicant is eligible to be member of
society, there is generally, no reasons for the society to refuse admission and
transfer of shares or keep the matter pending. You will find my article on the
topic of “Various Applications / requests by members and time bound
compliance by society”. At the same time, the applicant can have recourse to
appeal in case the application for membership and transfer of shares is not
attended by the society within 90 days. There is a concept of deemed
membership under those circumstance.
Coming back to the transfer of shares,
A. The nominee/s need to apply for membership and for transfer of shares
and give some declarations as provided under Byelaws 34. The Hon.
Secretary of the society need to revert to the applicant in case of some
deficiencies or additional information. The Hon. Secretary need to put
up the application in the meeting of the Managing Committee called after
that.
The Managing Committee may approach a legal advisor for vetting of
the documents, to avoid legal complications or for guidance for action
as per the law. If the application is perfect in all respect, the Managing
Committee may pass necessary resolution providing for the followings:-
a. Resolution for admission of the applicants/s as members on
cessation of membership of the deceased member.
b. Resolution for Transfer of Shares to the applicant.
c. Resolution authoring the Hon. Secretary to complete the formality
of endorsement of share certificate and updating the statutory
records such as Share Register, member register, members list
etc.
d. The transfer will be compete on endorsement and updating of the
statutory records.
e. Any transfer in violation of the act and rule will be illegal.
B. In case there is no nomination or if the nominee does not come forward,
the legal heirs may have to come forward and follow the procedure as
per Byelaws 35. This procedure includes the followings:
a. Declaration by the legal about no objection to one or more of the
legal heirs applying for membership and transfer of shares.
b. Public notice inviting claim or objections to the transfer of shares
to be given by the society. The expenses need to be borne and
paid by the applicants.
c. Application for membership by the selected legal heir/s.
d. Indemnity bond to be given by such applying legal heir/s.
e. Other declaration as per the Byelaws 35.
The Hon. Secretary will follow the same procedure and pass necessary
resolutions as noted above.
In case of refusal of the application, the reasons of refusal shall be recorded
in the minutes of the Managing Committee. The Hon. Secretary must convey
the decision with reasons to the applicant with in 15 days of such decision. In
all the applications must be disposed of within three months of their receipt.
The applicant will be deemed member if there is no response within 90 days.
Such applicant shall approach the Dy. Registrar for necessary order for
deemed membership.
Nominees or the legal heirs must follow this procedure for transfer of shares
on death of a member in a Co-operative Housing Society.

Advocate Ishan Rohan LawRato