The Societies Registration Act, 1860, is a central Indian law that enables the registration of various types of societies, primarily those established for literary, scientific, charitable, or educational purposes. It grants these societies legal status, enabling them to own property, sue, and be sued, and manage their affairs through a governing body.
Key Aspects of the Act:
- Purpose:The Act aims to improve the legal status of societies, allowing them to operate as distinct legal entities from their members.
- Registration Process:To register, a society needs to form a memorandum of association and file it with the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies.
- Membership:Any seven or more persons associated for a specific purpose (literary, scientific, charitable, etc.) can form a society.
- Memorandum of Association:This document must contain the society’s name, objects, governing body’s details, and a copy of the society’s rules.
- Rights and Responsibilities:Registered societies gain the ability to own property, sue or be sued, and have internal management through a governing body.
- Dissolution:The Act outlines procedures for dissolving societies, including the requirement for a majority vote of members.
- Applicability:The Act applies to various types of societies, including those for the diffusion of knowledge, charitable purposes, libraries, and museums.
- Renewal:The registration needs to be renewed every five years.