Society Registration Office

Introduction

The Registrar, Cooperative Societies, appointed by the Lt. Governor, Delhi under Delhi Cooperative Societies Act, 2003, heads the Cooperative Department and plays a pivotal role in monitoring the functioning of Cooperative Societies registered under the Act. The Lt. Governor also appoints other persons to assist the Registrar and has designated them as Joint Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrar and other field/ministerial staff. The Office of the Registrar is working on nine-district pattern and has nine Zones headed by Assistant Registrar level Officers. Each zone handles the matters of various cooperative societies on the basis of their registered office located in that particular zone. All issues concerning in particular society are examined at the zonal level only.

The governance of societies also differs from that of trusts; societies are usually managed by a governing council or managing committee, whereas trusts are governed by their trustees.Individuals or institutions or both may be members of a society. The general body of member’s delegates the management of day-to-day affairs to the managing committee, which is usually elected by the membership. Members of the general body of the society have voting rights and can demand the Submission of accounts and the annual report of the society for inspection. Members of the managing Committee may hold office for such period of time as may be specified under the bylaws of the society.

Societies, unlike trusts, must file annually, with the Register of Societies, a list of the names, addresses And occupations of their managing committee members. Furthermore, in a society, all property is held in The name of the society, whereas all of the property of a trust legally vests in the trustees. Unlike trusts, societies may be dissolved. Dissolution must be approved by at least three-fifths of the Society’s members. Upon dissolution, and after settlement of all debts and liabilities, the funds and property of the society may not be distributed among the members of the society. Rather, the remaining funds and property must be given or transferred to some other society, preferably one with similar objects as the dissolved entity.