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Art. 243ZJ Part IXB: The Co-operative Societies

Number and Term of Members of Board and Its Office Bearers

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The board shall consist of such number of directors as may be provided by the Legislature of a State, by law: Provided that the maximum number of directors of a co-operative society shall not exceed twenty-one members... (2) The term of office of elected members of the board and its office bearers shall be five years from the date of election...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article caps a co-operative society's board size (maximum 21 directors) and fixes a mandatory 5-year term for elected board members and office bearers — bringing the same kind of structural regularity to co-operative governance that Parts IX and IXA brought to Panchayats and Municipalities.
Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why your local co-operative bank, housing society, or credit union's board can't be indefinitely large or serve indefinite terms without re-election — a constitutional check on co-operative governance becoming unaccountable or perpetually entrenched.

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Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 243ZJ

Can a co-operative board member's term be extended beyond 5 years without re-election?
No — this Article fixes a firm 5-year term for elected board members, requiring fresh elections after that period.

The text above reproduces Article 243ZJ of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.