Provision for dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs
Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 deals with provision for dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs. Any number not less than three-fifths of the members of any society may determine that it shall be dissolved, and thereupon it shall be dissolved forthwith, or at the time then agreed upon, and all necessary steps shall be taken for the disposal and settlement of the property of the society, its cla The Act was enacted on 21 May 1860.
Any number not less than three-fifths of the members of any society may determine that it shall be dissolved, and thereupon it shall be dissolved forthwith, or at the time then agreed upon, and all necessary steps shall be taken for the disposal and settlement of the property of the society, its claims and liabilities, according to the rules of the said society applicable thereto, if any, and, if not, then as the governing body shall find expedient provided that, in the event of any dispute arising among the said governing body or the members of the society, the adjustment of its affairs shall be referred to the principal Court of original civil jurisdiction of the district in which the chief building of the society is situate; and the Court shall make such order in the matter as it shall deem requisite:
Provided that no society shall be dissolved unless three-fifths of the members shall have expressed a wish for such dissolution by their votes delivered in person, or by proxy, at a general meeting convened for the purpose:
Provided that 1[whenever any Government] is a member of, or a contributor to, or otherwise interested in any society registered under this Act, such society shall not be dissolved 2[without the consent of the Government of the State of registration].
STATE AMENDMENTS
Assam
Amendment of section 13 of Act XXI of 1860.-- In section 13 of the said Act,--
(a) after the words "as the governing body" the words "or special Committee formed to replace the governing body in respect of all matters affecting the winding up of the affairs of the Society;" shall be inserted;
(b) after the words "the said governing body" the words "should it not have been replaced by the aforesaid special Committee in respect of all matters affecting the winding up of the Society, or the said special Committee," shall be inserted.
(2) After section 13 of the Act, the following proviso shall be inserted as the first proviso, namely:--
Provided that any matter decided by three-fifths of those present either in person or by proxy at any meeting of the members of the Society or of the governing body thereof or of any special Committee appointed at a General Meeting for the purpose of winding up of the affairs of a Society shall not be deemed to be a matter of dispute within the meaning of this section.
[Vide Assam Act 15 of 1948, s. 2]
Arunachal Pradesh
In section 13:--
(a) after the words "as the governing body", the words "or special committee formed to replace the governing body in respect of all matters affecting the winding up of the affairs of the society" shall be inserted;
(b) after the words "the said governing body", the words "should it have not been replaced by the aforesaid special committee in respect of all matters affecting the winding up of the society, or the said special committee" shall be inserted;
(c) in the second proviso, for the words "Government of the State of registration", the word "Administrator" shall be substituted;
(d) after the second proviso, the following further proviso shall be inserted, namely:--
Provided further that any matter decided by three-fifth of those present either in person or by proxy at any meeting of the members of the society or of any governing body thereof or of any special committee appointed at a general meeting for the purpose of winding up of the affairs of a society shall not be deemed to be a matter of dispute within the meaning of this section."
[Vide Arunachal Pradesh Act 6 of 1978, s. 2 and the Schedule]
Section 13, The Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Act 21 of 1860).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 5
- National Sports Club of Assam (Taking-Over Management) 1978 (Act No.9 of 1978) s. 11 Over-riding effect of the Act
- National Sports Club of Assam (Taking over of management and control) Act s. 18
- Shillong Commerce College (Taking-Over of Management) Act No.7 of 1984 s. 11 Over-riding effect of the Act
- s. 5 Property of society how vested
- s. 14 Upon a dissolution no member to receive profit. Proviso for Joint-stock Companies
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
-
… In any event, it stands accepted that the dispute as regards dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs should have been referred to the Principal Court of original civil jurisdiction. 62. The suit in question also does not conform to the provisions of Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act. 63. Section 20 of the Act provides that the societies enumerated therein can only be registered under the said Act. 64. Unless a suit is filed in terms of Section 13 of the Act, the society is not dissolved. Even assuming that the society stands dissolved in terms of its …
-
… In any event, it stands accepted that the dispute as regards dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs should have been referred to the Principal Court of original civil jurisdiction. 62. The suit in question also does not conform to the provisions of Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act. 63. Section 20 of the Act provides that the societies enumerated therein can only be registered under the said Act. 64. Unless a suit is filed in terms of Section 13 of the Act, the society is not dissolved. Even assuming that the society stands dissolved in terms of its …
-
… In any event, it stands accepted that the dispute as regards dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs should have been referred to the Principal Court of original civil jurisdiction. 62. The suit in question also does not conform to the provisions of Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act. 63. Section 20 of the Act provides that the societies enumerated therein can only be registered under the said Act. 64. Unless a suit is filed in terms of Section 13 of the Act, the society is not dissolved. Even assuming that the society stands dissolved in terms of its …
Questions about Section 13
What does Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act deal with?
Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act is headed "Provision for dissolution of societies and adjustment of their affairs". Any number not less than three-fifths of the members of any society may determine that it shall be dissolved, and thereupon it shall be dissolved forthwith, or at the time then agreed upon, and all necessary steps shall be taken for the disposal and settlement of the property of the society, its cla
How do I find court cases under Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Societies Registration Act 13, section 13 Societies Registration Act, section 13 of the Societies Registration Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act, and has it changed?
5 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.
When was Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act enacted?
Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act, cited as Societies Registration Act 13, was enacted on 21 May 1860 as Act 21 of 1860. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 20. To what societies the Act shall apply6292 words
- 12. Societies enabled to alter, extend or abridge their purposes2939 words
- 4. Annual list of managing body to be filed1214 words
- 1. Societies formed by memorandum of association and registration962 words
- 3. Registration and fees836 words
- 19. Inspection of documents, Certified copies351 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.