To enhance participation, cut costs, and ensure timely proceedings, Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) Girish Dayalan has issued instructions allowing all Cooperative Institutions across the State to hold meetings and proceedings via Video Conferencing (VC).
RCS : This move follows the successful adoption of VC by Union and State Governments as well as Constitutional Courts, and is legally supported under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which recognizes electronic records and signatures.
Under the new guidelines, the VC option will be available for all meetings. Notices for Board, Committee, General Body/AGM meetings, and personal hearings must include VC access details.
The RCS emphasized that VC is an additional facility and does not change legal requirements regarding quorum, notice, or voting. Roll-calls, VC logs, and verified participant lists will ensure transparency. Agendas may be shared electronically, and voting or decisions can be conducted via VC and subsequently recorded in the minutes.
Institutions may also record VC sessions fully or partially for internal documentation. Where applicable, personal hearings can be conducted via VC, while court appearances will follow the rules of the respective forum.
Mr. Dayalan clarified that the provisions of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, its Rules, and institutional by-laws will remain fully applicable.
This initiative reduces the financial and logistical challenges of large gatherings, encourages wider participation—including from those unable to travel—and ensures compliance with statutory requirements.
All Apex Cooperative Institutions, Cooperative Banks/Societies at State, District, and Primary levels, along with authorities and field formations, have been directed to implement these measures immediately.