Section 17. Nominal and associate member

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 15, a cooperative society may admit - (i) a prescribed class of persons or a prescribed local authority or a self help group, as a nominal member; or (ii) the spouse of a member in a prescribed class of society, as an associate member. (2) A nominal or an associate member shall neither be entitled to any share in any form whatsoever in the assets or profits of the society nor have any right to vote in the affairs of the society; but shall have such other rights of a member and be subject to such liabilities of a member as may be specified in this Act, rules or the bye-laws of the society and all the provisions of this Act, rules and the bye-laws relating to membership, shall apply to him.