Chapter 1 PRELIMINARY

Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Kerala Societies Registration Act, 2025.

1. (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

1. (a) “administrator” means administrator appointed as per section 39 of the Act;
2. (b) “day” means a working day of the competent authority concerned;
3. (c) “governing body” means the committee or the administrators, directors or any other body entrusted with the management of the society under its rules and regulations;
4. (d) “Government” means the Government of Kerala;
5. (e) “Inspector General of Registration” means an officer appointed as per section 3 of the Registration Act, 1908 (Central Act 16 of 1908);
6. (f) “Inspector of society” means such officer as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint for such area as may be specified in the notification for the purpose of performing the duties and functions of Inspector of societies under this Act, and where no such officer is appointed, the Registrar, shall be the Inspector of society;
7. (g) “member” means a person who having been admitted in the membership of a society in accordance with the rules, regulations and bye-laws thereof, have signed in the roll for payment of subscription and not resigned or removed in accordance with such rules, regulations or bye-laws. Explanation.— No person shall be entitled to vote in the proceedings under this Act, whose subscription is in arrears for a period exceeding three months, and shall not be deemed to be a member;
8. (h) “memorandum of association” means memorandum of association of the societies as per section 6 of this Act;
   • (i) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
9. (j) “Registrar” means an officer as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint for such area as may be specified in the notification for the purpose of performing the duties and functions of a Registrar under this Act, and if where no such officer is appointed, the Inspector General of Registration shall perform the duties of the Registrar;
10. (k) “society” means a society registered or deemed to be registered under this Act;
11. (l) “year” means the year beginning on the 1st day of January and ending on the 31st day of December or in case of any society or any class of societies, with the prior permission of the Registrar, the year starting and ending on such date if their accounts are fixed to any other date.