India is a country of 138 crores people, and it is about to become the world’s most populous country by 2024. With such a huge population and potential for growth, business houses have realized that partnering with like-minded individuals can be an effective way of capitalizing on the vast opportunities that India offers. However, in order to do so, these individuals must register their business with the Registrar of Societies. The Registrar of Societies is responsible for the development and maintenance of records relating to the affairs of societies registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
The purpose of registering your society is twofold:
- To protect the interests of members associated with it; and
- To ensure proper management of its assets.
The process involves filing an application with the Registrar in an approved format along with supporting documents and paying applicable fees. Once this has been done, your application will be scrutinized and processed by the Registrar, following which you will receive an official registration certificate.
A society is a group of people who come together for the betterment of society and to meet their common needs. A society has to be registered under law for its management, conduct, and administration. There are various types of societies like Apartment Owners Association (AOA), Resident Welfare Association (RWA), and Cooperative Housing Society (CHS).
Society Registration Process:
- An association of minimum 7 members can apply for registration of the society
- The name of the society should end with “Cooperative Housing Society Limited”
- The applicant can submit an application in Form A or Form B depending on the type of the society to be registered
- The applicant has to submit an affidavit stating that he/she is not a member or nominee of any other cooperative housing society.
- A certified copy of rules and bylaws is also required to be submitted as per the model bye-laws prescribed by the authority.
- The model constitution provided by the concerned authority must be signed by all members in presence of the Notary Public.
Documents Required to register a society In India
- PAN Card.
- The Residence Proof.
- Memorandum of Association.
- Articles of Association.
- A covering letter.
- Address proof.
- Governing Body.
- A declaration.
Purpose of Society Registration
The purpose of society registration is to ensure that civil society organizations (CSOs) maintain their non-profit status, uphold the ethics and values of the profession, and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders. The main purpose of registering a society is to safeguard the interest of all the members. When a society is registered, the state government issues a certificate of registration which is an official recognition of the society and states that the society is genuine, registered under the Societies Registration Act. This certificate helps in obtaining other benefits like exemption from income tax (under section 80G of the Income Tax Act) and obtaining funds from financial institutions such as banks and housing boards. The certificate also safeguards the interest of members as it ensures that there is no chance for any person to claim themselves as ‘representative’ or ‘secretary’ without due authority from the committee. In case there are any disputes regarding management, property rights of members, etc. then a duly registered society has the authority to file a case with a court of law for appropriate action.
