Expert committee to review Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, elections rules and housing society governance
In a move that could significantly impact cooperative housing societies across Maharashtra, the state government has constituted a high-level expert committee to recommend amendments to the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, along with allied rules governing society functioning and elections.
The committee has been tasked with aligning Maharashtra’s cooperative framework with the National Cooperative Policy, 2025, while addressing emerging challenges in governance, transparency, elections and dispute resolution—areas that directly affect lakhs of housing societies in the state.
Why the Government Is Rewriting Cooperative Laws
According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued on January 2, 2026, the decision follows deliberations held during a State Apex Committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister in July 2025. The meeting reviewed the rapidly changing realities of the cooperative sector and flagged the need for time-appropriate legal reforms.
The Cooperation Department noted that the existing law, originally enacted in 1960, requires structural updates to reflect:
- Modern governance standards
- Increased scale of cooperative housing societies
- Election-related disputes
- Transparency and accountability concerns
- Alignment with national policy goals
Housing Societies Likely to Be Directly Impacted
While the committee will review the cooperative sector as a whole, cooperative housing societies are expected to be a major focus, given their growing number and frequent legal and administrative disputes.
Potential areas of review include:
- Powers of managing committees
- Registrar’s role and intervention powers
- Society elections and election disputes
- Member rights and remedies
- Federation oversight and accountability
- Dispute resolution mechanisms
Any amendments recommended by the committee could lead to significant changes in how housing societies are governed and regulated.
Which Laws Will Be Reviewed
The committee will examine and suggest amendments to:
- Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960
- Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Rules, 1961
- Maharashtra Cooperative Societies (Election to Committees) Rules, 2014
These laws collectively govern membership, elections, administration, disputes and penalties in cooperative housing societies.
Who Will Head the Committee
The committee will be chaired by the Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra State (Pune).
Members include:
- Commissioners from sugar, textiles, dairy and marketing departments
- Representatives of state-level cooperative banks and federations
- Leaders from cooperative housing federations at state and district levels
- Senior officials of the Cooperation Department
- Retired senior cooperative officers
- Representatives from Sahakar Bharati
The chairperson is also empowered to invite additional experts as required.
Two-Month Deadline for Report
The committee has been given a strict two-month timeline to:
- Conduct a detailed study
- Identify shortcomings in existing laws
- Recommend specific amendments
The report will then be submitted to the state government for further action.
What Housing Societies Should Watch Closely
Legal experts say housing societies should closely monitor:
- Proposed changes to election rules
- Any tightening or relaxation of Registrar powers
- New compliance or disclosure requirements
- Changes to dispute resolution procedures
Once the report is submitted, the government may initiate legislative amendments, making this a crucial moment for cooperative housing stakeholders.
Why This Matters
Maharashtra has lakhs of cooperative housing societies, especially in cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Navi Mumbai. Any reform in cooperative laws has a direct impact on flat owners, managing committees and redevelopment projects.
This committee’s recommendations could shape the future of housing society governance for the next decade.
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