Punjab Brings All Registered Societies Under RTI: Cabinet Approves Major Transparency Reform

The updated law also makes it clear that societies will no longer be allowed to sell, transfer or dispose of immovable property without prior approval from the Registrar, a safeguard against unauthorised transactions and misuse of assets. File Photo.

The reform also aims to prevent misleading or deceptive society names.

Punjab Brings All Registered Societies Under RTI: Cabinet Approves Major Transparency Reform

On Friday, the Punjab state cabinet approved the Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2025. This is an amendment to the old 1860 Societies Act; it mandates inclusion of all registered societies under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI). The Punjab government has taken this initiative to bring transparency and accountability to the many non-profit, social-welfare, charitable and voluntary organisations operating in the state.

According to Industries and Power Minister Sanjeev Arora, this “modernised regulatory framework” is especially for covering societies that are active in fields such as health, education, sports, social welfare and other charitable institutions. The minister stated that the revised system is focused on ensuring responsible use of public funds and tax-exempt resources and building greater public trust.

Some of the key provisions of the amendment include mandatory re-registration of all existing societies within one year of its notification and thereafter renewal every five years to ensure active functioning and compliance with the law. The updated law also makes it clear that societies will no longer be allowed to sell, transfer or dispose of immovable property without prior approval from the Registrar, a safeguard against unauthorised transactions and misuse of assets.

The reform also aims to prevent misleading or deceptive society names: any name already in use in the same jurisdiction, or similar enough to suggest a government-backed institution, will be disallowed.

The amendment empowers local administrative authorities to enforce accountability: on complaints of mismanagement, Deputy Commissioners can order enquiries through a Tehsildar or similar officer where a society is registered. If any wrongdoing is found and not corrected, an SDM-level administrator can be appointed, and fresh elections for the managing committee must be held within six months.

For citizens, activists, beneficiaries or watchdog journalists, this opens the doors to greater transparency. Under RTI, they can seek records of societies, from financial audits and donor lists to minutes of meetings, property deals, and usage of funds. Charitable institutions that once operated with minimal public oversight will now have to justify their functioning.

This reform could mark a turning point for governance of non-profits and societies in Punjab. If implemented accordingly, it promises cleaner administration, deterrence of misuse, and enhanced trust in institutions that deliver social welfare. The real test still lies ahead — whether societies comply, whether registrars and officials exercise powers, and whether citizens make use of their RTI rights.