Jammu & Kashmir Societies (NGO) Registration Act
The British passed the Societies Registration Act in India in 1860. The Act was based on The Literary and Scientific Institutions Act, which was passed in England in 1854.
The main Act is simple enough. However, the states have power (Charitable and Religious institutions fall under state list) to amend the main Act for their own state. Many states have amended the main Act, These amendments create confusion in section references, such as Section 4A for Bihar is different from section 4A for Goa. Others have passed their own independent Act.
It has proved very complex task to get the latest amendments for each state. Therefore, please reconfirm the information presented here before taking any important decisions.
Jammu & Kashmir Societies Registration Act, 1998 Vikram Samwat
Registration
By filing Memorandum of Association and certified copy of Rules and Regulations (Sec. 4). All documents to be filed with the Registrar of Societies.
Alteration
You are allowed to alter the objects of the society, or merge with another society. For this, you have to convene two general body meetings and three-fifths of the members have to approve the change (Sec. 10).
List of Governing Body Members
To be filed every year within fourteen days of annual general meeting. If general meetings are not held, filing should be done in the month of Kartik (Sec. 5).
Accounts
No specific provisions
Dissolution
Three-fifths of the members or more may decide in a general meeting to dissolve the society (Sec. 11). Government's consent is a must, if it is a member or a contributor or interested in the society. However, the government can neither dissolve a society on its own, nor can it take over the society.
Disposal of property upon dissolution
After dissolution, the members cannot receive any profits from the society. However, three-fifths of the members can decide to give the property (left after settlement of all debts and liabilities) either to another society or to the State Government (Sec. 12).
Others
All documents of the society are open to public for inspection on payment of fifty paise per hour of such inspection or a maximum of Re.1 for each inspection. Copies can be taken and can also be certified by the Registrar (Sec. 17).
