Section 19. Eligibility for membership.

(1) Subject to the bye-laws, any person who is desirous of utilising the services of the Co-operative Society may express his willingness to accept the responsibilities of membership and fulfil such other conditions as may be specified in the bye-laws of the Co-operative Society and thereupon he may be admitted as a member, subject, however, to the condition at the Co-operative Society is in a position to extend its services to the applicant and that the Applicant is not already a member of a Co-operative Society registered under this Act, or the 1Telangana Co-operative Societies Act, 1964, providing the same or similar services. 2[(2) Admission of members and removal from membership shall be made, in accordance with the procedure specified in the bye-laws only by the General Body: Provided that no member shall be expelled under this section unless, (a) member caused loss of finances to the society; (b) member is involved in impersonation, forgery or any other criminal activity against the society; (c) given an opportunity of making his/her representation to the Managing Committee, before removal of membership: Provided further that a copy of resolution expelling the member shall be communicated to the member within 30 days under intimation to the Registrar.] (3) A person admitted as a member may exercise the rights of membership, including the right to vote, only on fulfilment of such conditions as may be laid down from time to time in the bye-laws: Provided that a person shall have been a member for atleast one year before being eligible to exercise the right of vote: Provided further that the above proviso shall not apply to the promoter, member in the first year of registration of a Co-operative Society. 3[(4) A member shall be disqualified from voting if he / she fails to attend two consecutive Annual General Body meetings without leave of absence and if he/she fails to utilize minimum level of services or/and participate in the business of the society at a minimum level as may be prescribed in the Bye-laws: Provided that a reasonable opportunity shall be provided to the member before disqualifying him from membership.]