Administrations

Cooperative Department under Government of Tamil Nadu is headed by the Hon’ble Minister for Cooperation. Cooperative Department is functioning under the supervision of the Secretary to Government, Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department. The Secretary to Government is assisted by the Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries, Section Officers, Assistant Section Officers and Assistants in Secretariat.

Registrar of Cooperative Societies in the cadre of I.A.S., is the Head of the Cooperative Department. At the Headquarters, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies is assisted by One Additional Registrar in the cadre of I.A.S., 4 Additional Registrars, 4 Joint Registrars and 10 Deputy Registrars on functional basis. Apart from the above officers, one post of Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer in the cadre of Deputy Secretary to Government, from Finance Department is looking after the matters relating to Budget and Accounts. One post of Assistant Director of Statistics in the cadre of Deputy Registrar is supervising the Statistical Wing of the Department. Cooperative Sub-Registrars are working as Superintendents and Senior Inspectors and Junior Inspectors are working as assistants under their control in the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies .

There are 38 regional offices in the State with a Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies in charge of each region (District) except Chennai. The Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies is the Regional Head so far as Chennai is concerned. The Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Chennai Region and Regional Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies of other regions supervise the proper functioning of the Cooperative societies in their respective Districts.

The Cooperative department has been divided into 73 Circles for the proper administration of the department. The Circles are on the territorial basis co-terminus to Revenue Division. In Chennai City, there are two circles which are functioning on functional basis, one for credit and the other for non-credit cooperatives. The circle Deputy Registrars are working under the immediate control of Regional Joint Registrars of Cooperative Societies.

The powers of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies under the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Societies Act, 1983 and the rules framed there under have been delegated to the Additional Registrars, Joint Registrars, Deputy Registrars and Cooperative Sub Registrars vide G.O. (2D) No.108 Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department dated 31.08.2005 and G.O. (2D) No.109 Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department dated 31.08.2005.

The Apex level institutions function only in Chennai and all other Cooperative Institutions function under the control of the Regional Joint Registrars.

The circle Deputy Registrars of Cooperative Societies have to attend the inspection and supervision of all cooperative societies in their circle and discharge all statutory functions relating to the societies, such as Inspection, Enquiry, Arbitration, Execution, Liquidation etc., A circle Deputy Registrar is assisted by few Cooperative Sub Registrars, Senior Inspectors, Junior Inspectors and other Ministerial staff.

In every district, there is one Deputy Registrar (Public Distribution System) with staff for the supervision of Fair Price Shops functioning in the districts. They are also working under the direct control of the Regional Joint Registrars except Chennai.

There are two Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Chennai, exclusively to monitor and to attend the work relating to proper distribution of essential commodities through the Public Distribution System outlets of the cooperative societies functioning in Chennai City and belt areas.

There are seven Deputy Registrars (Public Distribution System) in Chennai City functioning under the direct control of these two Joint Registrars (Public Distribution System), Chennai. They are inspecting the fair price shops functioning in Chennai City and belt area.