Society registration is a legal process through which a group of individuals or organizations come together for a specific purpose and register themselves as a society with the concerned authority. A society is formed for the promotion of any literary, scientific, or charitable purpose or for the diffusion of useful knowledge. The process of society registration varies from country to country, and in this article, we will focus on society registration in India.
In India, society registration is governed by the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The act provides for the registration of societies for charitable, literary, scientific, or any other purpose that is not for profit. The main purpose of registering a society is to provide a legal status to the society, which will enable it to own property, sue and be sued in its own name, and enter into contracts.
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The registration process for a society in India is a simple and straightforward process. The first step in the process is to form a group of individuals who share a common goal or objective. The group must consist of at least seven individuals, and all members must be over the age of 18. The members must then come together and agree on a name for the society, as well as its objectives and goals.
Once the group has agreed on the name and objectives of the society, the next step is to prepare a memorandum of association and rules and regulations. The memorandum of association is a document that outlines the objectives of the society and the rules and regulations that will govern it. The rules and regulations will cover the membership criteria, the powers and functions of the office bearers, the mode of election, and the conduct of meetings.
The memorandum of association and rules and regulations must be signed by all the members of the society and must be witnessed by a gazetted officer, notary public, or magistrate. The documents must then be submitted to the concerned authority for registration. In India, the registration authority for societies is the Registrar of Societies, who is appointed by the state government.
The application for registration of a society must be made in the prescribed format, and it must be accompanied by the memorandum of association, rules and regulations, and a list of the office bearers of the society. The application must also be accompanied by the requisite fee, which varies from state to state.
Once the application for registration is submitted, the Registrar of Societies will verify the documents and conduct an inquiry into the activities of the society. The inquiry is conducted to ensure that the society is formed for a legitimate purpose and that its objectives are in line with the objectives of the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Once the Registrar of Societies is satisfied with the documents and the inquiry, the society will be registered, and a certificate of registration will be issued. The certificate of registration is proof that the society is a legal entity, and it can now own property, enter into contracts, and sue and be sued in its own name.
In conclusion, society registration is a legal process that is essential for the formation of a society. The process is simple and straightforward, and it provides a legal status to the society, which is necessary for its functioning. The Societies Registration Act, 1860, governs the registration of societies in India, and the Registrar of Societies is the authority responsible for the registration of societies.