Norms and procedures for initial registration of Societies
Under the provisions of the Societies Registration Act. XXI of 1860, any seven or more persons associated for any literary, scientific, or charitable purpose, or for any such purpose as is described in Section 20 of this Act, i.e. Charitable Societies, the military orphan funds or societies established at the several presidencies of India, societies established for the promotion of science, literature, or the fine arts, for instruction, the diffusion of useful knowledge, [the diffusion of political education], the foundation or maintenance of libraries or reading rooms for general use among the members or open to the public, or public museums and galleries of painting and other works of art, collections of natural history, mechanical and philosophical inventions, instruments or designs, by subscribing their names to a memorandum of association, and filling the same with the Registrar of Firms and Societies Assam form themselves into a society under this Act.
As per Section 3-A of the S.R. Act. XXI of 1860 (I) no society shall be registered under a name which is identical with, or too nearly resembles the name of, any other society or any body corporate which has been previously registered or incorporated under this Act or any other law for the time being in force, as the case may be. No society shall use in its nomenclature any of the words, namely: “Union”, State”, “Land Mortgage”, “Gandhi”, “Reserve Bank” or any word expressing or implying the sanction, approval or patronage of Central or any State Government or any word which suggests or is calculated to suggest connection with any local authority or any corporation or body constituted by the Government under any law for the time being in force except when the State Government signifies its consent to the use of such words as part of the name of a society by order in writing.
A Society shall not contain any of the following words:- “Indian”, “National” as per India Government instructions issued.
A Society shall not contain the name of the “National Figures” as per India Government instructions issued.
Self-Help Groups are organization formed to help the group members within a specific group by lending money for starting a business / occupation / trade, therefore, these are business activities, hence they do not come under the preview of Societies Registration Act 1860.
The societies whose aims and objectives appears to be confined to the welfare and interest of its own members only do not come under the purview of Societies Registration Act 1860. Such as Pensioners Association, Housing Societies etc.
CHECKLIST
Documents required for registration of a societies
Two sets of cleanly typed Memorandum of Association together with Rules and Regulations duly signed by the President and the Secretary with the Seal of the Society
Registration Fee of Rs.50.00 (Rupees fifty) only is payable for the purpose through Treasury Challan under the Head of Account - 1475-other General Economic Services- Fees under the Societies Registration Act. 1860, Act XXI of 1860
Copies of Resolution regarding registration of the Society and election of the Members of the executive body with the list of members present in the General Meeting.
If the society claims that its office is situated on a land, owned by it, the Dag Number, Patta Number and proof of its ownership of the land should be furnished. If the office is situated in a rented building an affidavit from the house owner with proof of his ownership should be furnished.
Passport size photographs of the President and Secretary.
If the Organisation (proposed to be registered as a society) has been undertaking any activities during the preceding twelve month from the date of its application for registration, it should attach a certificate in original from the Deputy Commissioner / Sub-divisional Officer of the concerned district / Sub-division of these activities.
Declaration from the President of the Secretary regarding the receipt of fund, If any from the Government or other agencies. There should be a categorical declaration in this respect.
