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1[1]THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1860
(Act XXI of 1860)
CONTENTS
SECTIONS
1. Societies formed by memorandum of association and registration.
2. Memorandum of association.
3. Registration fee.
4. Annual list of managing body to be filed.
5. Property of society how vested.
6. Suits by and against societies.
7. Suits not to abate.
8. Enforcement of judgment against society.
9. Recovery of penalty accruing under bye-law.
10. Members liable to be sued as strangers
Recovery by successful de fendant of costs adjudged.
11. Members guilty of offences punishable as strangers.
12. Societies enabled to alter, ex tend or abridge their purposes.
13. Provision for dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs
Assent required
Government consent.
14. Upon a dissolution no member to receive profit
Clause not to apply to joint-stock companies.
15. Member defined − Disqualified members.
16. Governing body defined.
16-A. Supersession of governing body of a society.
17. Registration of societ ies formed before Act − Assent required.
18. Such societies to file memorandum, etc., with Registrar of Joint-stock
Companies.
19. Inspection of documents − Certified copies
20. To what societies Act applies.
21. Registration of Deeni Madrassah.

1[1] Short title given by the Short Titles Act, 1897 (14 of 1897).

THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1860 2[2] (Act XXI of 1860)
[21 May 1860] An Act for the Registration of Literary,
Scientific and Charitable Societies
Preamble.− WHEREAS it is expedient that provis ion should be made for improving the
legal condition of societies established for the promotion of literature, science, or the fine
arts, or for the diffusion of useful knowledge,
3[3][the diffusion of political education] or for
charitable purposes; it is enacted as follows:-
1. Societies formed by memorandu m of association and registration.− 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, may by subscribing their names to a
memorandum of associat ion and filing the same with the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies
4[4][* * *] form themselves into a society under this Act.
2. Memorandum of association. − The memorandum of asso ciation shall contain
the following things (that is to say) −
the name of the society:
the objects of the society:
the names, addresses, and occupations of the governors, council, directors, committee
or other governing body to whom, by the rule s of the society, the management of its
affairs is entrusted.
A copy of the rules and regulations of the society, certified to be a correct copy by
not less than three of the members of th e governing body, shall be filed with the
memorandum of association.
5[5][3. Registration fee. − Upon such memorandum and certified copy being filed, the
Registrar shall certify under his hand that the Society is registered un
der this Act. There
shall be paid to the Registrar for every su ch registration such fee as the Provincial
Government may direct, and all fees so paid shall be accounted for to the Provincial
Government.] 4. Annual list of managing body to be filed. − Once in every year, on or before the
fourteenth day succeeding the day on which, according to the rules of the society, the

2[2] Short title given by the Shor t Titles Act, 1897 (14 of 1897).
The Act (with the exception of the first four sections) is based on Literary and Scientific Institutions Act, 1854.
It had been declared to be in force in all the Provin ces and the Capital of the Federation, except the Scheduled
Districts, by s. 3 of the Laws Local Extent Act, 1874 (15 of 1874).
It had been declared by Notification under s. 3 (a) of the Scheduled Districts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874), to be in force in
the Scheduled Districts; namely − Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan.
[Portions of the Districts of Hazara , Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan and the Districts of Peshawar
and Kohat now form the N.W.F.P., see Gazette of India, 1901, Pt. I, p. 867, and ibid., 1902, Pt. I, p.575 ].
3[3] Added by the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 1927 (XXII of 1927).
4[4] The words and figures “under Act 19 of 1857” repe aled by the Repealing Act, 1874 (16 of 1874). 5[5] Substituted by the Punjab Finance Act, 1990 (I of 1990).

annual general meeting of the society is held, or, if the rules do not provide for an annual
general meeting, in the month of January, a list shall be filed with the Registrar of Joint-
stock Companies of the names, addresses an d occupations of the governors, council,
directors, committee or other governing body then entrusted with the management of the
affairs of the society.
5. Property of society how vested. − The property, movable and immovable,
belonging to a society registered under this Act, if not vested in trustees, shall be deemed
to be vested, for the time being, in the governing body of such society, and in all
proceedings, civil and criminal, may be descri bed as the property of the governing body
of such society by their proper title.
6. Suits by and against societies. − Every society registered under this Act may sue or
be sued in the name of the president, chairman, or principal secretary, or trustees, as shall be
determined by the rules and regu lations of the society, and, in default of such determination, in
the name of such person as shall be appointed by the governing body for the occasion:
Provided that it shall be competent for any person having a claim or demand against
the society, to sue the president or chairman, or principal secretary or the trustees thereof, if
on application to the gove rning body some other officer or person be not nominated to be the
defendant.
7. Suits not to abate. − No suit or proceeding in any Civil Court shall abate or
discontinue by reason of the person by or against whom such suit or proceedings shall
have been brought or continue d, dying or ceasing to fill the character in the name
whereof he shall have sued or been sued, but the same suit or proceedings shall be
continued in the name of or ag ainst the successor of such person.
8. Enforcement of judgment against society. − If a judgment shall be recovered
against the person or officer named on behalf of the society, such judgment shall not be
put in force against the property, movable or immovable, or against the body of such
person or officer, but against the property of the society.
The application for execution shall set fo rth the judgment, the fact of the party
against whom it shall have b een recovered having sued or having been sued, as the case
may be, on behalf of the society only, and sh all require to have the judgment enforced
against the property of the society.
9. Recovery of penalty accruing under bye-law. − Whenever by any bye-law duly
made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the society, or, if the rules do not
provide for the making of bye-laws, by any bye -law made at a general meeting of the
members of the society convened for the purpos e (for the making of which the concurrent
votes of three-fifths of the members presen t at such meeting shall be necessary), any
pecuniary penalty is imposed fo r the breach of any rule or bye-law of the society, such
penalty, when accrued, may be recovered in any Court having jurisdiction where the
defendant shall reside, or the society shall be situate, as the governing body thereof shall
deem expedient.
10. Members liable to be sued as strangers – Recovery by successful defendant of
costs adjudged.− Any member who may be in arrear of a subscription which, according
to the rules of the society he is bound to pay, or who shall possess himself of or detain
any property of the society in a manner or for a ti me contrary to such rules, or shall injure

or destroy any property of the society, may be sued for such arrear or for the damage
accruing from such detention, injury or destruction of property in the manner
hereinbefore provided.
But if the defendant shall be successful in any suit or other proceeding brought
against him at the instance of the society, a nd shall be adjudged to recover his costs, he
may elect to proceed to recover the same from the officer in whose name the suit shall be
brought, or from the society, and in the latter case shall have process against the property
of the said society in the manner above described.
11. Members guilty of offences punishable as strangers. − Any member of the society
who shall steal, purloin or em bezzle any money or other property, or willfully and
maliciously destroy or injure any property of such society, or shall forge any deed, bond,
security for money, receipt, or other instrument, whereby the funds of the society may be
exposed to loss, shall be subject to the same prosecution, and, if convicted, shall be liable to
be punished in like manner as any person not a member would be subject and liable to in
respect of the like offence.
12. Societies enabled to alter, ex tend or abridge their purposes.− Whenever it shall
appear to the governing body of any society re gistered under this Act, which has been
established for any particular purpose or purposes, that it is advisable to alter, extend or
abridge such purpose to or for other purposes within the meaning of this Act, or to
amalgamate such society either wholly or pa rtially with any other society, such governing
body may submit the proposition to the member s of the society in a written or printed
report and may convene a special meeting for the consideration thereof according to the
regulations of the society.
But no such proposition shall be carried into effect unless such report shall have been
delivered or sent by post to every member of the society ten days previous to the special
meeting convened by the governing body for the consid eration thereof, nor unless such
proposition shall have b een agreed to by the votes of three- fifths of the members delivered in
person or by proxy, and confirmed by the votes of three-fifths of the members present at a
second special meeting convened by the governing body at an interval of one month after the
former meeting.
13. Provision for dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs − Assent
required − Government consent. − Any number not less than three-fifths of the members of
any society may determine that it shall be dissolved, and thereupon it shall be dissolved
forthwith, or at the time then agreed upon, a nd all necessary steps shall be taken for the
disposal and settlement of the property of the society, its claims and liabilities, according to
the rules of the said society applicab le thereto, if any, and, if not, then as the governing body
shall find expedient, provided that, in the event of a ny dispute arising among the said
governing body or the members of the society, the adjustment of its affairs shall be referred
to the principal Court of original civil jurisdicti on of the district in which the chief building of
the society is situate; and the Court shall make such order in the matter as it shall deem
requisite:
Provided that no society shall be dissolv ed unless three-fifths of the members
shall have expressed a wish for such dissolution by their votes delivered in person, or by
proxy, at a general meeting convened for the purpose:

Provided that 6[6][whenever any Government] is a member of or a contributor to, or
otherwise interested in, any so ciety registered under this Act, such society shall not be
dissolved
7[7][without the consent of the Government of the Prov ince of registration].
14. Upon a dissolution no member to receive profit − Clause not to apply to joint-
stock companies. − If upon the dissolution of any societ y registered under this Act there
shall remain after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever,
the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the said society or any
of them, but shall be given to some other so ciety, to be determined by the votes of not
less than three-fifths of the members pres ent personally or by proxy at the time of
dissolution, or in default thereof, by such Court as aforesaid:
Provided, however, that this clause shall not apply to any society which shall have
been founded or established by th e contributions of shareholders in the nature of a Joint-
stock Company.
15. Member defined − Disqualified members. − For the purposes of this Act a member
of a society shall be a person who, having been admitted therein according to the rules and
regulations thereof, shall have paid a subscription or shall have signed the roll or list of
members thereof, and shall not have resign ed in accordance with such rules and
regulations; but in all proceedings under this Ac t no person shall be entitled to vote or to be
counted as a member whose subs cription at the time shall have been in arrear for a period
exceeding three months.
16. Governing body defined. − The governing body of the society shall be the
governors, council, directors, committee, trust ees or other body to whom by the rules and
regulations of the society the manage ment of its affairs is entrusted.
8[8][16-A. Supersession of governing body of a society. − (1) Notwithstanding anything
contained in the memorandum of association, ru les or regulations of a society registered
under this Act, if, after such inquiry as may be necessary, the Provincial Government is
of the opinion that the go verning body of the society −
(a) is unable to discharge or persisten tly fails in discharging its duties, or
(b) is unable to administer its affairs or meet its financial obligations, or
(c) generally acts in a manner contrary to public interest or the interests of the
members of the society,
the Provincial Government may, by notificatio n in the Official Gazette, declare the
governing body to be superseded for such period, not exceeding one year, as may be
specified in the notification.
9[9][Provided that the declaration shall not be made without giving to the society to
be affected thereby an opportunity of being heard.] (2) On the publication of a no tification under sub-section (1),−

6[6] Substituted by the Government of India (Adaptation of In dian Laws) Order, 1937, as amended by the Government
of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Supplementary Order, 1937 for “whenever the Government.”
7[7] Ibid., for “without the consent of Government.” 8[8] Added by the Societies Registration (West Pakistan Ame ndment) Ordinance, 1962 (IX of 1962), and substituted by
the Conformity with Fundamental Rights (Punjab Amendment of Laws) Act, 1976 (IX of 1976).
9[9] Added by the Societies Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1984 (XV of 1984).

(a) the office-bearers and other members of the governing body shall cease to hold office; and
(b) all functions of the governing body sha ll, during the period of supersession, be
performed by a governing body constitute d by the Provincial Government
from among the members of the society.
(3) On the expiry of the period of supersession, the governing body of the
society shall be reconstituted in accordan ce with its memorandum of association, rules
and regulations.] 17. Registration of soci eties formed before Act − Assent required. − Any company or
society established for a literar y, scientific or charitable purpose, and registered under
10[10] Act XLIII of 1850, or any such society established and constituted previously to the
passing of this Act but not registered under the said 11[11] Act XLIII of 1850, may at any time
hereafter be registered as a society under th is Act; subject to the proviso that no such
company or society shall be registered under this Act unless an asse nt to its being so
registered has been given by three-fifths of th e members present personally, or by proxy, at
some general meeting convened for th at purpose by the governing body.
In the case of a company or society registered under 12[12] Act XLIII of 1850, the
directors shall be deemed to be such governing body.
In the case of a society not so regi stered, if no such body shall have been
constituted on the establishment of the soci ety, it shall be competent for the members
thereof, upon due notice, to create for itself a governing body to act for the society
thenceforth.
18. Such societies to file memorandum, etc., with Registrar of Joint-Stock Companies. −
In order to any such society as is mentioned in the last preceding section obtaining registry
under this Act, it shall be sufficient that the governing body file with the Registrar of Joint-
stock Companies
13[13][* * *] a memorandum showing the name of th e society, the objects of the society, and the
names, addresses and occupations of the governing body, together with a copy
of the rules and
regulations of the society certif ied as provided in section 2, an d a copy of the report of the
proceedings of the general meeting at which the registration was resolved on.
19. Inspection of documents − Certified Copies.− Any person may inspect all
documents filed with the registrar under this Act on payment of a fee of one rupee for
each inspection, and any person may require a copy or extract of any document or any
part of any document, to be certified by the registrar, on payment of two annas for every
hundred words of such copy or extract; and such certified copy shall be
prima facie
evidence of the matters therein containe d in all legal proceedings whatever.
20. To what societies Act applies.− The following societies may be registered under
this Act:-

10[10] Subsequently replaced by the Indian Companies Act, 1866 (10 of 1866), section 219.
11[11] Ibid.
12[12] Ibid. 13[13] The words and figures “under Act 19 of 1857,” repealed by the Repealing Act, 1874 (16 of 1874).

Charitable societies, 14[14] [* * *] societies established for the promotion of science,
literature, or the fine ar ts, for instruction, the di ffusion of useful knowledge, 15[15][the diffusion
of political education], the fo undation 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, instrume nts, or designs.
16[16][21. Registration of Deeni Madrassah. (1) A Deeni Madrassah by whatsoever
name called shall not be established or opera ted without being registered as a society
under this Act.
(2) The Deeni Madrassah shall, in addition to the other provisions of this Act,
be subject to the following conditions:
(a) to submit annual report of its activities and performance to the Registrar;
(b) to maintain accounts of its expenses and receipts and annually submit the
report to the Registrar; and
(c) to cause to be carried out audit of its accounts by an Auditor and annually submit
its audited accounts to the Registrar.
(3) No Deeni Madrassah shall teach or publish any literature which promotes
militancy or spreads sectarian hatred and religious hostility.
Explanation. In this section, “Deeni Madrassah” means a religious institution
established or operated primarily for the purp ose of imparting religious education whether
providing boarding and lodg ing facilities or not and includes a Jamia, Dar-ul-uloom, School,
College, University, or any othe r religious institution, called by whatsoever name, set up for
the aforesaid purpose.]

14[14] The words “the military orphan funds or societies established at the several presidencies of India” omitted by the
Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances Order, 1949 (G.G.O. 4 of 1949).
15[15] Inserted by the Societies Registratio n (Amendment) Act, 1927 (22 of 1927). 16[16] Inserted by the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act 2005 (XIII of 2005).