7. Sub-Section (14) of Section 73CB of the Act, 1960 inter alia provides that the committee of every co-operative society shall inform any casual vacancy occurring in the committee or its office bearers within fifteen days of the occurrence of such vacancy. Thus, so far as statutory functions of the Election Authority are concerned, the same may be traced in the provisions contained in Section 73CB of the Act, 1960. However, apart from the power vested in the Election Authority in terms of Section 73CB of the Act, 1960, provisions contained in Rule 3 of the Rules, 2014 may also be referred to which vests specific powers in the Election Authority in order to conduct the elections of the co-operative societies. According to Rule 3 of the Rules, 2014, the powers of the Election Authority includes power to appoint any officer or an employee for the purpose of conducting elections, to requisition any public or private premises, vehicles, services etc., to prescribe the code of conduct, to appoint Observers and Zonal Officers, to issue special or general orders or directions for fair and free elections and to issue general or special orders regarding the estimated amount of election expenditure for societies or class of societies.
