7. Election of office bearers
(1) As soon as the members of the board have been elected the returning officer shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the bye-laws of the Multi-State Co- operative Society, convene a meeting of the newly constituted board for the purpose of election of the President or Chairperson, Vice-President or Vice-Chairperson or other elected office bearers of the society, by whatever name they are called. Such a meeting of the board shall not be conducted unless a majority of the number of members of the newly constituted board, as per bye-laws are present.
(2) At the meeting so convened by the Returning Officer, he shall preside over the meeting for the purpose of election of the office bearers. The election of the office bearers of the Multi-State Co-operative Society shall be by secret ballot.
(3) The returning officer shall announce the schedule of election of office bearers, stating the number of vacancies to be filled by election, date, place and time between which nominations papers shall be filled by the members; the date on which and the time and place at which the nomination papers will be taken up for scrutiny; the date and time of withdrawal; and the date on which, the place at which the polling, if required, will take place. The returning officer shall intimate the schedule of election to all the newly elected or nominated members of the board. The nomination, in Form V, shall be made to the Returning Officer at such a meeting. The returning officer shall decide the objections if any, which may be made at the time, to any nomination and after making such summary inquiry, as he thinks necessary, announce the name of valid nominations.
(4) If for any office for which elections are to be held, the number of candidates in respect of whom valid nominations have been announced, does not exceed the number of candidates to be elected for that office, the candidates for whom valid nominations have been announced shall be deemed to have been elected for that office and the returning officer shall make a declaration to that effect. If the number of candidates in respect of whom valid nominations have been announced for any office exceeds the number of candidates to be elected a poll by secret ballot shall be taken by the returning officer. The returning officer shall, thereafter, announce the number of votes secured by each candidate and the result of the election.
(5) The returning officer, shall immediately thereafter record the proceedings of the election in a comprehensive report which shall form part of the records of the society and shall be binding on all. The returning officer shall immediately also furnish a copy of such a report together with a copy of the return of the polling, to the society for onward transmission to the Central Registrar. The society shall immediately forward such report and return of the results furnished by the returning officer to the Central Registrar.