POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF ELECTION COMMISSION

The Commission as constituted under section 33-A of the Act is vested with the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for and the conduct of all Elections to Co-operative Societies in the State.

The Commission has to conduct the election of the Members (Directors) of the Board and Office Bearers of a Co-operative Society as provided under rule 52 and 53 of the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Rules, 1988 respectively.

Rule 52-A of the Rules details the powers and functions of the Commission.
Some of such important powers are enumerated below:

To arrange, at any time for the conduct of election of Members (Directors) of the Board of a Society to fill up the existing or future vacancies.
To give such direction as may deem necessary to District Collector or District Superintendent of Police or any Executive Magistrate or any Police Officer.
To issue any direction or guidelines or instructions to the Boards and Office Bearers of Co-operative Societies and also to officers and staff appointed to perform the election duty for the conduct of election.
To appoint the officers appointed as the Registrar of Co-operative Societies by the Government under section 3 of the Act as the State Election Officers in respect of those Co-operative Societies under their administrative control.
To appoint District Election Officers from Co-operative Department and other Government Departments.
Officers appointed for the conduct of these elections during that period shall be subject to the control, superintendence, and discipline of the Election Commission.
To issue such general or special directions as may be necessary for the purpose of giving due effect to these rules or holding any election under the Act and the Rules.
If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of rules 52, 52A and 53 of the rules or in holding any election may do anything which appears to it necessary for the purpose of removing difficulty.
To empower the District Election Officer to fix dates and periods, other than those notified earlier.
To recall any officer, if in the Commission's opinion, is found to have done anything detrimental to the conduct of free and fair election by any of his act of omission or commission and appoint another eligible officer in his place.
To cancel the election, if in the Commission's opinion, it is not possible to hold free and fair election.
To direct the postponement of the election of Office Bearers or further postponement of the date so postponed.
To resume any election stopped, cancelled or postponed, from the stage it was postponed or at an earlier stage as may be decided by the Commission.
To Nominate Observers.