Generally, no — a cooperative housing society in Ahmedabad does not have the legal authority to dispute or adjudicate the ownership of a member's flat, since a society's role is primarily administrative and custodial rather than that of a title-determining authority, and genuine ownership disputes must be resolved through civil courts or, in specific cooperative-related matters, through the forums established under cooperative society law. Under the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act, 1961, a housing society's functions relate to management of common areas, maintenance, membership administration, and enforcement of society bylaws — while the society does maintain records of share certificates and membership linked to specific flats, these records are administrative in nature and do not themselves constitute conclusive proof of ownership, similar to how revenue mutation records do not determine title.

Where a genuine dispute arises about who actually owns a flat — for instance, between rival claimants following inheritance, a disputed sale, or a family dispute — the society is generally expected to await the outcome of civil litigation or a formal succession/legal heir determination before updating its own membership and share certificate records, rather than independently deciding the ownership question itself. If a society does purport to unilaterally decide an ownership dispute and transfers membership without proper legal basis, the aggrieved party can challenge this both before the Registrar of Cooperative Societies under the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act, 1961, and through a civil suit for declaration of title under Section 34 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963.

Disputes specifically relating to society membership, share transfer procedures, or bylaw compliance can be addressed through the cooperative dispute resolution mechanism under Section 96 of the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act, 1961, which provides for reference of certain disputes to a competent authority or cooperative court, but this mechanism is generally understood to handle membership and procedural matters rather than substantive questions of who legally owns the underlying property.

Where a society is refusing to recognise a legitimate owner's rights, or is improperly favouring another claimant, prompt legal action — combining a civil suit for declaration with, where relevant, a cooperative dispute reference — is usually necessary to protect your position. For representation before Ahmedabad's courts and cooperative authorities, the Top Property Lawyers in Ahmedabad | Aapka Legal Advice directory can connect you with suitable counsel, and reach out via Aapka Legal Advice for guidance.

In conclusion, no, a housing society generally cannot conclusively dispute or determine the ownership of a member's flat in Ahmedabad — that authority rests with civil courts, and societies are expected to follow, not preempt, a proper legal determination of ownership, whether through court decree or established succession process.