Chitambaresh, J.

“If you want to be incrementally better: Be competitive.

If you want to be exponentially better: Be co-operative.”

said an unknown author whose message is yet to percolate to the masses.

2. The challenge in these writ appeals is confined to Section 2(ia), the third proviso to Section 18(1) and Explanation I to Section 32(1) of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act' only). The above provisions brought in by the Kerala Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Amending Act') are extracted below for the sake of clarity:

Section 2(ia):

“'District Co-operative Bank' means a Central Society having jurisdiction over one revenue district and having as its members Primary Agricultural Credit Societies and Urban Cooperative Banks and the principal object of which is to raise funds to be lent to its members, including nominal or associate members.”

Section 18(1). Third proviso:

“Provided also that a District Co-operative Bank may admit any co-operative society registered under the provisions of this Act, other than Primary Agricultural Credit Societies and Urban Co-operative Banks, functioning wi