Managing Committee Election
The Managing Committee Election is the mandatory process, held once every five years, by which members of a Maharashtra co-operative housing society elect their governing committee through a secret ballot supervised by the State Co-operative Election Authority (SCEA).
What is Managing Committee Election?
Under bye-law 115(a), every Maharashtra co-operative housing society must hold an election of all committee members once in five years, before the expiry of the committee's term. The election is not run by the outgoing committee — it is conducted by the State Co-operative Election Authority (SCEA) under Section 73-CB of the MCS Act.
The process begins six months before term expiry, when the society sends the E-2 Intimation Form to the Election Authority. A Returning Officer is deputed, nominations are invited, scrutinised for disqualifications under bye-law 117, and voting is conducted by secret ballot.
Why it matters
A committee that has not been elected through the SCEA process is legally irregular. Auditors are required to flag an irregular committee in Form J. The Registrar can treat an informal 'election' done at the AGM as void and initiate action under Section 77A.
Missing the election deadline automatically ends the outgoing committee's authority. Members cease to hold office the moment the term lapses, which can paralyse the society until the Registrar intervenes.
Legal & regulatory context
Section 73-CB of the MCS Act 1960 transferred election authority from societies to the SCEA. Bye-law 115 prescribes the timeline. Bye-law 117 lists disqualifications for candidates. The maximum committee size is 21 members under Section 73AAA(1). Reserved seats for women, SC/ST, OBC and VJ/NT/SBC are mandatory under the Constitution (Article 243ZJ) and state law.
Once two-thirds or more of the seats are filled, the Returning Officer must forward the elected members' names to the Registrar within seven days. The Registrar publishes this and the committee is deemed constituted.
How SocietyBee handles it
SocietyBee's Defaulter Register gives the outgoing committee an audit-ready, up-to-date defaulter list at election time — the most common source of nomination-scrutiny disputes is an incorrect or disputed defaulter position. Clean books going into an election prevent most candidature challenges.
Try SocietyBee free →Frequently asked questions
Can the election be held at the AGM by show of hands?
No. Since 2013, housing society elections in Maharashtra must be conducted by the SCEA through a formal process with a Returning Officer and secret ballot. A show-of-hands vote at the AGM does not constitute a valid election.
What is the penalty if the society misses the election deadline?
Committee members cease to hold office automatically when the term lapses. The Registrar can take action under Section 77A, including appointing an Authorised Officer to run the society.