Section 4 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Section 4 creates the office that runs the registration and supervision of multi-State co-operative societies: the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies. It also lets the Central Government spread the Registrar's powers to other officers by notification, with two limits: registration stays with the Central Registrar, and no State officer may be given those powers over a national co-operative society.
This article states the section as per the Ministry of Cooperation copy of the Act read with the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023. Section 4 itself was not amended in 2023, but the definition of the office in section 3(d) was. If your society is dealing with the Central Registrar and you are unsure which officer has power on a matter, a legal consultation can help.
The Central Government may appoint a person as Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies and may appoint others to assist (s.4(1)). By notification, it may direct that any power of the Central Registrar, other than registration of a multi-State co-operative society, can also be exercised by another officer of the Central Government or a State Government (s.4(2)). No State officer may be empowered in relation to a national co-operative society (proviso). Section 4 was not changed in 2023; section 3(d) was.
Sub-section (1): the office and its assistants
Section 4(1) reads: "The Central Government may appoint a person to be the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies and may appoint such other persons as it may think fit to assist the Central Registrar."
Three points:
- The power is permissive ("may appoint"); the Act does not fix a number of posts or any qualification.
- The appointing authority is the Central Government, not Parliament and not the society.
- The assistants help the Central Registrar. They are not given the Registrar's powers by this sub-section; powers pass to others only under sub-section (2).
The office also appears in the definition in section 3(d). As amended by the 2023 Amendment Act, that clause defines "Central Registrar" as the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies "appointed as per clause (f) of article 243ZH of the Constitution read with sub-section (1) of section 4", and it includes any officer empowered under sub-section (2). Section 4(1) itself does not mention article 243ZH; the link is made only through the definition. The reader should check the article in the Constitution; the Act does not explain it. For the full clause see Section 3, clauses (a) to (h).
Sub-section (2): delegation by notification
Section 4(2) says the Central Government may, "by notification, direct that any power exercisable by the Central Registrar under this Act (other than the power of registration of a multi state cooperative society) shall, in relation to such society, and such matters as may be specified in the notification, be exercisable also by any other officer of the Central Government or of a State Government as may be authorised by the Central Government subject to such conditions as may be specified therein".
Reading it clause by clause:
| Element | What the text says |
|---|---|
| How | By "notification", which under section 3(s) means one published in the Official Gazette |
| Which powers | "Any power exercisable by the Central Registrar under this Act" |
| Excluded power | "The power of registration of a multi state cooperative society" cannot be delegated |
| Scope | "In relation to such society, and such matters as may be specified in the notification" |
| Who can be authorised | "Any other officer of the Central Government or of a State Government" |
| Conditions | "Subject to such conditions as may be specified therein" |
| Effect | The power is exercisable "also" by that officer, so the Central Registrar's own power continues |
The word "also" matters: the Central Registrar does not lose the power; it becomes concurrent. Delegation is made case by case in the notification, so the officer's reach depends on what that notification says. No such notification is in the sources, so this article cannot say which officers, if any, have been authorised, or for what matters.
The proviso: no State officer for a national co-operative society
The proviso says: "Provided that no officer of a state government shall be empowered to exercise such power in relation to a national cooperative society." A national co-operative society is a multi-State co-operative society named in the Second Schedule (s.3(r)); see Section 3, clauses (q) to (w). For those societies, only the Central Registrar or a Central Government officer can hold the delegated power. A State Government officer can be authorised for other multi-State societies, within the limits of the notification.
Why this matters in practice
- Whom to approach. A society files its application, bye-law amendments and returns with the Central Registrar (see sections 6, 11 and 120). Where a notification delegates a power, a Central or State officer may deal with the society on the matters specified.
- Registration cannot be handed off. The carve-out means the decision to register a multi-State co-operative society stays with the Central Registrar; this is the office that must act within the time limit in section 7 as amended (three months, with a possible extension of two months, and deemed registration if the time passes).
- Reading later sections. Wherever the Act says "Central Registrar", the definition in section 3(d) applies, so it includes an officer empowered under section 4(2).
A practical example
Kaveri Dairy Co-operative, an invented multi-State society, receives a letter from an officer of one State Government asking for its audit papers. Before replying, its secretary checks whether a section 4(2) notification names that officer and the matter. If the notification does not cover the matter, or the officer is outside its conditions, the secretary may write back to ask for the authority. If instead Kaveri were named in the Second Schedule as a national co-operative society, no State officer could hold the delegated power at all, because of the proviso.
For the registration side of the Registrar's work, see the registration process guide.
What the 2023 Amendment Act changed
| Provision | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Section 4(1) and (2), and the proviso | As printed above | No change |
| Section 3(d) "Central Registrar" | "appointed under sub-section (1) of section 4" | "appointed as per clause (f) of article 243ZH of the Constitution read with sub-section (1) of section 4" |
Need help with a matter before the Central Registrar?
Registration, bye-law changes and returns all go to this office. If you want a second pair of eyes on what you are filing, or on whether a power in your case has been delegated, a legal consultation is a sensible first step.
Key takeaways
- The Central Government appoints the Central Registrar and assistants (s.4(1)).
- Powers may be delegated "also" to Central or State Government officers by notification (s.4(2)).
- The power to register a multi-State co-operative society cannot be delegated.
- No State Government officer can be empowered over a national co-operative society.
- Section 4 was not amended in 2023, but section 3(d) now refers to article 243ZH(f) of the Constitution.
Read next
- Section 3, clauses (a) to (h): area of operation, board, bye-laws and Central Registrar
- Section 5: which societies may be registered
- Section 7: registration time limit, refusal and deemed registration
- Multi-State Co-operative Society registration: step-by-step process
Disclaimer: Based on the Ministry of Cooperation copy of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 read with the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 (in force from 3 August 2023), as consulted on 2 October 2026. The Multi-State Co-operative Societies Rules, 2002 as amended, later notifications and later amendments are not covered and should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.