Non-government Organizations, most commonly known as NGOs in India, are also a kind of entity. However, such entities are not formed to serve any kind of personal interest. NGOs are mainly formed for philanthropic works. The main purpose of such kind of entities is charity. That charity can be in any field like science, art, literature, empowerment, environment, etc. Mainly, NGO registration can be done in three ways in India, out of which society is one. Society can be formed through the online society registration process. If you are also thinking about registering a society read this blog till the end. This will help you to take easy online society registration.
Governing Law for Society Registration in India
The main law that governs societies and society registration in India is the Societies Registration Act of 1860. The Act outlines various provisions, including the drafting of a Memorandum of Association, registration fees, property asset management, and procedures for dissolution and adjustment of affairs. This act is applicable to the entire country. It consists of a total of 20 sections. Some of the important provisions of this act are mentioned below for the reference of those who want to do online society registration:
- Societies are formed with the help of a memorandum of association, and only after the drafting of the proper MOA registration process can be completed.
- A Memorandum of association regarding things has been mentioned in section 2 of the Act of 1860
- Registration and the fees with respect to registration have been given under section 3 of the Societies Act.
- The annual list of managing bodies must be attached to the application for registration.
- The process of vesting of properties or assets of the societies has been mentioned under section 5 of the Societies Act.
- Provision regarding the suits like suits by and against societies and the suits not to abate.
- Enforcement of judgment given by the competent authorities against the registered society.
- Recovery of penalty accruing under the bye-law of the society and the recovery by the successful defendant of costs adjudged
- Who can be sued as strangers, and the provision regarding the members guilty of offences punishable as strangers has been mentioned under section 10 and section 11, respectively.
- Societies are enabled to alter, extend or abridge their purposes as per the requirement.
- Section 13 of the Societies Act talks about the provision for the dissolution of societies as well as the adjustment of their affairs.
- Section 14 talks about how, after the dissolution of the society, no member will receive profit.
- Disqualified members are also defined under the Act of 1860
- The governing body of the society has been defined.
- Provision regarding inspection of documents as well as certified copies has been given under section 19 of the act.
- In the last section, the applicability of the act has been mentioned.
Process of Checking Online Society Registration
To check online society registration, individuals can access the official government property records website, navigate to the “Society” section, select the relevant region and district, and retrieve the society’s registration number. Given below is the step-by-step procedure to check the online society registration number:
- Access the Government Website: Go to the official property records website the government maintains. You can typically find this website by searching for your local government’s property records or land registry website.
- Homepage: Once you reach the homepage, you will find many options available on the screen. Now scroll and go to the footer of the website.
- Search Area: In the footer, look for a search or navigation area. It might be a dropdown menu or a list of links. Now click on the option of “society.”
- New Window: The moment you click on the option of “society”, you will come to another window.
- Determine the Region: On the new page, determine the region in which the society you’re interested in is situated. You might have to choose the location or district from a list or a map.
- Choose District: Once you’ve identified the region, select the name of the district where the society is located.
- Select Society’s Name: Look for the society’s name within the chosen district. It might be presented in a list, search bar, or as a clickable link. Click on the society’s name.
- Enter Captcha: You might be required to enter a captcha code for the verification that you are a human being and not a bot. Enter the captcha code as instructed.
- Registration Number: Once you’ve successfully completed the steps, the society’s registration number should be displayed on the screen.
Types of Online Society Registration
India recognises two main types of society registrations: national-level and state-level societies, each with distinct requirements and formalities, serving either a national or state-specific charitable purpose. National-level societies mandate the involvement of members from various states, while state-level societies primarily operate within a specific state’s boundaries, often following their unique state laws for registration. The two types of society registration are mentioned below:
National Level Society
National-level societies are those which have been formed to work on a national level. Such societies are formed with different requirements than state-level societies. Such kinds of societies have more formalities as they are formed to work on a national level. The requirements of members and documents are different for these societies. The main thing about these societies is that at least seven members from seven different states must be there in their society. Without fulfilling this requirement, one cannot register in a national-level society.
State Level Society
State-level societies are those that work in a particular state. These societies have boundaries beyond which they cannot work. In comparison to national-level societies, their establishment is easy. They have comparatively less formalities and paperwork. For the formation of state-level societies, many states have their own state-level laws, and they are governed by those laws only. On the other hand, societies that do not have their own law then they will be governed by the Societies Act of 1860. Some states which are having their own laws for society registration are the Madhya Pradesh Society Registration Act of 1973, Maharashtra Societies Registration Act of 1860, etc.
Conclusion
Online society registration in India, particularly under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, plays a crucial role in facilitating the formation of societies, which are primarily dedicated to philanthropic endeavours. This process varies slightly from state to state, necessitating expert guidance to ensure a smooth online society registration process. Registering a society as an NGO is one of the easiest forms of NGO registration. This is easy only if it is done correctly. Easy does not mean that anybody can complete the process. It is easy for those who have knowledge about its registration process. Hence, one must take expert guidance while registering for any kind of society in India.
