Section 39. Proof of entries in Co-operative societys books.

(1) A copy of any entry in book of a co-operative society regularly kept in the course of its business, shall, if certified in such manner as may be prescribed, be received in any suit or legal proceeding as prima facie evidence, of such entry and shall be admitted as evidence of the matters, transactions and accounts therein recorded in the same manner and to the same extent as the original entry itself is admissible. (2) A co-operative society may grant copies of any document obtained and kept by it in the course of its business, or of any entries in such document; and any copy so granted shall, when certified in such manner as may be prescribed, be admissible in evidence for any purpose in the same manner and to the same extent as the original document, or the entries therein, as the case may be. (3) No officer of a co-operative society and no officer in whose office the books of a co-operative society are deposited after liquidation shall, in any legal proceedings to which the society or the liquidator is not a party, be compelled to produce, any of the society’s books or documents the contents of which can be proved under this section, or to appear as a witness to prove the matters, transactions and account therein recorded, except under order of the Government, Court, Tribunal or the arbitrator for the special cause.