Section 17. Vote of members.

(1) Irrespective of the shares he holds in the co-operative society and subject to any temporary disqualifications from voting which may be prescribed in the bye-laws and to the provisions of section 30(3) of the Act related to voting by representatives a member of a registered co-operative society shall have a single vote in the affairs of the co-operative society: Provided that in case of an equality of votes the Chairman at any meeting shall have a second or casting vote: Provided further that the byelaw of a co-operative society may provide for more than one vote in the case of an affiliated cooperative society: (2) A registered co-operative society which is a member of another registered co-operative society may appoint one of its members qualified under any rule or bye-laws to vote in the affairs of such other co-operative society as its representative. (3) Voting by proxy shall not be allowed except as prescribed in a registered co-operative society's bye-laws: Provided that in registering the bye-law of a co-operative society the Registrar shall not permit voting by proxy except in cases, such as those involving a wide area of operation, where it would be difficult for members to exercise their rights if voting by proxy were not permitted.