7 months ago
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The Kerala Societies Registration Bill, 2025 meant to regenerate 2 pre-1956 laws governing societies with a azygous authorities for the full State, was passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly connected Tuesday (October 7, 2025) amid Opposition uproar implicit the Sabarimala golden ‘theft’ controversy.
Minister for Registration Kadannapally Ramachandran, presenting the Bill arsenic reported by the Subject Committee (Economic Affairs), described it arsenic “an important, timely, arsenic good arsenic a historical step” successful matters related to the State’s Registration department.
The Bill is designed to regenerate the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (No. 21), applicable to the aged Malabar region, and the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act, 1955 (Act XII of 1955) applicable to the aged Travancore-Cochin region.
First presented successful the Assembly connected September 29, the Bill was past referred to the Subject Committee.
Speaking successful the House, Mr. Ramachandran said lone one-fifth of the much than 5 lakh societies successful the State are filing their returns connected time. The existing 2 Acts covered well-known institutions specified arsenic the Kerala Cricket Association, Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi to agrarian libraries and adjacent residents associations.
“The lack of a azygous instrumentality for the full State has been a handicap. The Bill is aimed astatine simplifying procedures and introducing ratio and transparency. It is besides aimed astatine checking insubstantial organisations and the anticipation of fraud,” Mr. Ramachandran said.
The Bill covers aspects specified arsenic registration, yearly wide assemblage meetings, filing of returns, handling of offences and litigations, and amalgamation and dissolution of the societies.
UDF members registry dissent
Meanwhile, members of the Opposition UDF successful the Subject Committee registered their dissent connected definite aspects of the Bill.
In a dissent enactment attached to the Bill arsenic reported by the committee, the UDF members welcomed the wide volition of having a unified Bill for literary, technological and charitable societies. But they registered their objections pointing to an alleged deficiency of provisions successful the Bill for ensuring transparency, preparing a database of existing societies, and avoiding unnecessary litigations related to the activities of societies.
