The North News
Chandigarh, November 29
The Punjab government has introduced wide-ranging reforms to the regulation of societies in the state, aiming to increase transparency, accountability and oversight across organisations involved in health, education, sports, social welfare and charitable work. The Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2025 — a major update to the 1860 legislation — brings all registered societies under a uniform regulatory framework. The government says the changes will ensure responsible use of public funds and tax-exempt resources.
Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora said the new law makes all societies in Punjab subject to the Right to Information Act, allowing for greater public scrutiny. Registrars have been granted expanded powers to seek documents and information to prevent misuse of funds or deviation from stated objectives.
Under the amended law, societies must renew their registration every five years. Existing bodies must re-register within one year of the Act coming into force. The minister said this will help ensure active functioning, updated records and regular verification of management structures. New naming rules will prevent societies from using identical or deceptively similar names. Organisations will also be barred from selling or transferring immovable property without permission from the Registrar, a measure aimed at protecting public assets.
Oversight will be handled by Deputy Commissioners, who may order inquiries through Tehsildar-rank officers. If violations are found and not corrected, an SDM-level administrator can be appointed to restore proper functioning. If a managing committee is dissolved, fresh elections must be held within six months to maintain democratic governance.
Arora said the amendments will particularly strengthen monitoring of institutions in the health, education and sports sectors, as well as charitable bodies that receive income-tax benefits. The government’s objective, he added, is to curb misuse of society structures and ensure transparent, accountable operations.
The Act was drafted by a team led by Secretary for Industries and Commerce K.K. Yadav, along with Director Industries Saurabhi Malik and Punjab Development Commission vice-chairperson Sema Bansal.
