Registeration of a NGO under the Societies Registeration Act

Society as a form of charitable institution will be suitable, where a large number of contributors making regular contributions would require some kind of indirect controls by the office bearers. The best examples are professional organizations.

The Charity Commissioner is also an authority to register such organizations as a society. When a trust is constituted as a society, it is required to be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

After the Memorandum and Rules and Regulations of the Society have been drafted, signed and witnessed in the prescribed manner, the members should obtain the registration of the society. For the purpose of registration as society, following documents are required to be filed :

1. Letter requesting for registration stating in the body of the letter various documents annexed to it. The letter is to be signed by all the subscribers to the Memorandum or by a person duly authorised by all of them to sign on their behalf.

2. Memorandum of Association, in duplicate, neatly typed and pages serially numbered.

3. Rules and Regulations in duplicate.

4. Where there is a reference to any particular existing places of worship like temple, mosque, church, etc., sufficient documentary proof establishing legal competence and control of applicant society over such places should be filed.

5. An affidavit of the President or Secretary of the society, on a non-judicial stamp paper of prescribed value, stating the relationship between the subscribers, duly attested by an Oath Commissioner, Notary Public or First Class Magistrate.

6. Documentary proof of address such as House Tax receipt, rent receipt in respect of premises shown as Registered Office of the society or no objection certificate from the landlord of the premises.

If the Registrar is satisfied with the documents filed, he then requires the applicant society to deposit the registration fee. Normally, registration fee is Rs. 50, payable in cash or by demand draft. After the registration formalities have been completed and the Registrar is satisfied that the provisions of the Act have been complied with, he issues a certificate of Registration. Certified copies of the Rules and Regulations and Memorandum can be obtained by making simple application.

An entity registered under the Societies Act also gets registration under the local Public Trusts Act; i.e., Bombay Public Trusts Act by making an application simultaneously as mentioned above in case of trust deed. This is so because the definition of a Public Trust in Bombay Public Trusts Act includes a "Society" which is registered under the Societies Registration Act.

Special thanks to: Karmayog