law: Co-Operative Societies Act, 1912
  2. Definitions
  In this Act, unless there is anything
  
  repugnant in the subject or context,-
  (a) "by-laws" means the registered
  
  by-laws for the time being in force, and includes a registered amendment of the
  
  by-laws;
  (b) "committee" means the governing
  
  body of a registered society to whom the management of its affairs is
  
  entrusted;
  (c) "member" includes a person
  
  joining in the application for the registration of a society and a person
  
  admitted to membership after registration in accordance with the by-laws and
  
  any rules;
  (d) "Officer" includes a chairman,
  
  secretary, treasurer, member of committee, or other person empowered under the
  
  rules or the by-laws to give directions in regard to the business of the
  
  society;
  (e) "registered society" means a
  
  society registered or deemed to be registered under this Act;
  (f) "Registrar" means a person
  
  appointed to perform the duties of a Registrar of Co-operative Societies under
  
  this Act; and
  (g) "rules" means rules made under
  
  this Act.
  Comment: We have extracted above the definition
  
  of the expression 'officer' in 1912 Act. Undoubtedly, it is an inclusive
  
  definition. If only the officers enumerated in the definition are comprehended
  
  within the expression 'officer'. the first respondent is not an officer in the
  
  sense that he was neither a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, or a member of the
  
  Committee. But the expression 'officer' also embraces such other person
  
  empowered under the rules or the bye-laws to give directions in regard to the business
  
  of the society. U.P. Co-operative Cane Union Federation Ltd. and another,
  
  Appellants v. Liladhar, AIR 1981 SUPREME COURT 152