Q.Who registers a Co-operative Society, and what document must accompany the application for registration?

Registration of a Co-operative Society is a state-level function, done with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies along with the society's proposed bye-laws.

A minimum number of persons apply to this state authority, submitting the bye-laws that will govern the society once registered.

A Co-operative Society is registered with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies of the relevant state — in Maharashtra, functioning under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960.

The application for registration must be accompanied by the society's proposed bye-laws — the internal rules that will govern its objects, membership conditions, management structure, and the rights and duties of members once the society is registered. On registration, the Registrar issues a certificate of registration, and the society acquires a separate legal identity, perpetual succession, and a common seal.

(Note: the exact minimum number of persons required to apply, and further procedural detail, is set by the relevant state's own Co-operative Societies Act and can vary somewhat from state to state — commonly ten persons, though this figure should be verified against the current Maharashtra Act rather than assumed uniform nationally.)