A society is a non-commercial organization form with the association of several individuals to deliver, administer and manage and promote community causes like art, culture, science, religion, etc. The purpose of registering Societies generally comes to deliver charitable activities like culture, religion, art, education, sports, music, etc. The Society Registration Act of India, clearly define certain procedures for the registration & operation of society. Society Registration Act was implemented with focus to outline the legal terms of society registration for the development and improvement of literature.
The basic condition for society registration is the minimum number of members which should be seven or more. The Indian Societies Act has provisions to ensure the easy registration process to form a society for companies and foreign nationals. In India, state government and appropriate authorities take care of the registration of the societies. Step to follow for the registration of the societies are:
Choose a unique name for registering the societies. The name of the society should be accepted by all the members of society.
A memorandum of association (MOA) signed and attested by all registered members is obligatory to define rules and regulations for the societies.
An application form with the cover letter, the duplicate of MOA, Address proof and No objection certificate (NOC) needs to be submitted at the registration of the society,
Documents like PAN card of all the members of the society, the residence proof need to be attached to the society registration. The work and mission of the society, details of the members and address of the society should be included in the MOA.
Articles of association (AOA) including the auditor’s details, arbitration form, rules and processes is also mandatory.
List of documents you need for the registration process:
A society registration can be done for the following purposes and benefits:
Individuals, as well as the following persons, are eligible to subscribe to the memorandum of the society: Limited Company can subscribe to the memorandum of society A registered society can subscribe memorandum of association of proposed society. A foreign citizen is also eligible to subscribe to the memorandum of the society. Although the position of Partnership firm regarding the eligibility to subscribe to the memorandum of the society is not clear but Sec 25(4) of Companies Act, 1956 permits a partnership firm to become a member of a company.
Seven or more persons can form a society associated for any literary, scientific or charitable or any such purpose as described in Section 20 of the Act.
The society may be registered for the following purposes as mentioned in Section 20 of the Societies
registration Act 1860
Grant of charitable support
Promotion of different activities like science, literature, fine arts, foundation or maintenance of
libraries, public museum and galleries of paintings,
instructions or diffusion of useful knowledge,
diffusion of political education, works of art, collection of natural history, mechanical and
philosophical
inventions, instruments, designs, etc.
Societies form at the general presidencies of India
Foundation of military orphan funds
As mentioned in the memorandum a member can be a person who has joined according to the rules and regulations of the society. A person shall not be counted as a member and permitted to vote in any of the meetings of the society whose subscription is unpaid. The time limit is generally stated in the rules and regulations of the society for receiving the subscription.