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BOMBAY PUBLIC TRUSTS ACT, 1950 Charity Commissioner(C.C.)

 

Documents to be filed

Period

Prescribed Form

Procedures

Application for registration of the Trust (Sec. 18, Rule 6)

Within 3 months of creation of the Trust.

Schedule II

a. Application in the prescribed form

b. Instrument (Trust Deed)

c. Affidavit

d. Consent letter

e. No objection for use of address and address proof

f. Public Notice in Newspaper

g. List of all the Trustees and their identity proof

Application for registration of a trust created by will (Sec. 29)

Within 1 month of granting of probate/within 6 months of Testator's death whichever is earlier.

Schedule II

Application must be signed and affirmed by the applicant, and to be accompanied by a true copy of the Will and above procedures must be followed.

Memorandum of particulars of immovable properties [Sec. 18(7), Rule 6(7)]

Within 3 months of creation of the Trust.

Schedule II-A

Memorandum to be signed and affirmed by a trustee.

Change (Section 22 and Rule 13)

Within 90 days of the occurrence of change.

Schedule III

To be signed and affirmed by a trustee. It must be ensured that changes are communicated within 90 days and thereafter it is the responsibility of the trustee to follow-up and get the order of the changes. Changes for the appointment of the new trustees will be filed along with the notice of meeting, resolution, attendance sheet for the meeting, invitation letter, consent letter and Affidavit as well as for Deletion of name of trustee to be filed with letter of resignation, death certificate, Affidavit, No Objection letter and other relevant documentary evidence. Please note that the change report to be filed is to be approved by the Superintendent and only thereafter the change report can be filed.

Change (Section 22(1A), Rule 13(1A)) relating to Immovable property

Within 90 days of the occurrence of change.

Schedule III-A

Change schedule to be signed and affirmed by a trustee along with relevant documents of the property, how the property has come to the trust, Name and address of previous owner, Publication in newspaper, Copy of 7/12 of the property, Evidence Affidavit and audited accounts for last three years.

Budget (Sec. 31A, Rule 16A)

At least 1 month before commencement of each accounting year.

Schedule – VII-A

If annual income exceeds ` 5,000/- for public religious trust and ` 10,000/- for other trusts, than to filed budget by making adequate provisions for carrying out the objects of the trust, and for the maintenance and preservations of the trust property.

Accounts and Audit (Secs. 32, 33(2), 33(4), 34, Rule 17, 21)

Accounts to be audited within 6 months from close of accounting year.

Schedule – VIII for Balance sheet and Sch – IX for Income & Expenditure Sch-IXC for Statement of Contribution

Trust exempted from requirements of audit is required to file accounts in Schedules IX-A & IX-B. It is auditors duty to prepare Balance Sheet and Income & Expenditure A/c and forward the same along with a copy of his report to the trustee who in turn will forward the full set of audited accounts in the Office of Charity Commissioner within the fortnight of completion of audit. The trust having an annual income of
` 15,000/- or less is exempt from audit.

Maintenance of register u/s 36-B

Maintain a register for all movable and immovable properties.

Schedule X-AA

The changes to be reported to Office of C.C.

Maintenance of register by a Medical Centre u/s 41AA

Governing Body of a Medical centre shall maintain a register for recording the category of a patient.

Schedule X-AAA

A register is required to be maintained of indigent patients and patients from weaker sections.

INVESTMENTS (SECTION 35)

Public trust can invest its funds in any of the following modes :

  1. Scheduled Bank as defined in Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

  2. Postal Savings Bank.

  3. Co-operative bank approved by the State Government.

  4. Public Securities (Sec. 2(12)) (Units issued by the Unit Trust of India are declared as Public Securities).

  5. First mortgage of immovable property situated in India provided the property is not lease for a term of years that is lease for 50 or 99 or 999, it must be in perpetuity and for an indefinite period.

  6. Any other investments permitted by CC by a special or general order. CC circular provides that investment made pursuant to such order should not exceed 50% of total investments.

IMMOVABLE PROPERTY (SECTION 36)

Investment in immovable property requires CC's permission. No permission is necessary for development of immovable property to fulfil objects of the trust; e.g., construction of school building, library, etc.

Sale exchange, lease or gift of any immovable property of a public trust is invalid unless previously approved by the CC. Lease exceeding a period of 3 years requires prior permission of the Charity Commissioner. We have to enclose the Memorandum of Understanding/Sale Deed in case of sale and Lease Deed in case of lease.

CONTRIBUTION (SECTION 58, RULES 32 & 33)

Every public trust not exempt having gross annual income exceeding ` 25,000/- has to pay contribution to Public Trust Administration Fund at rates notified by State Government from time to time. For last 21 years, the rate notified has been 2%. Stay has been granted by Hon'ble Bombay High Court in CA Number 1 of 2009 and PIL Numbers 40,1780 and 1864 of 2007, ordered dtd. 25-9-2009.

Gross annual income means gross income from all sources including donations and offerings, but excluding corpus donations. Contribution is payable at the prescribed rate on the gross annual income after making deductions prescribed in Rule 32.

The following trusts are exempt from payment of contribution.

  1. Small trusts having annual income of ` 25,000/- or less.

  2. Public trusts exclusively for advancement/propagation of *education/medical relief/veterinary treatment. *(Till 5th August, 1997 the law provided deduction for secular education.)

  3. Recognised Public Libraries and Reading Rooms.

  4. Public Trusts exclusively for the purpose of relief of distress caused by scarcity, drought, flood, fire, or other natural calamity.

Recently Mumbai High Court has by an interim order stayed the payment of contribution in response to a P.I.L. The office of the Charity Commissioner is accepting the accounts from the year 2009 without payment of contribution subject to the final order.

BORROWING POWERS OF TRUSTEES (SECTION 36A)

No trustee shall borrow moneys (whether by way of mortgage or otherwise), even from Banks, for purpose of or on behalf of the trust except with the previous sanction of the Charity Commissioner and subject to such conditions and limitations as may be imposed by him in the interest or protection of the trust. The trust has to give the names of the prospective lenders and their consent letter along with the application.

PENALTIES (SECTION 66)

Section

Subject

Maximum Fine

Ss. 18(1), 18(4)(1)

Duty of trustees to apply to Deputy/Assistant CC for registration of Public Trust within time.

` 1,000/-

S. 18(7)

Duty of trustee to send memoranda of immovable property to certain officers/authorities within time.

` 200/-

S. 22

Failure to report a change.

` 1,000/-

S. 22B

Failure to make an application within the time provided for.

` 500/-

S. 22C

Failure to send memoranda within the time provided for.

` 100/-

S. 29

Duty of an executor to apply for registration of a public trust within the time provided for.

` 1,000/-

S. 32

Duty to keep regular accounts.

` 1,000/-

S. 35

Failure or omission to invest money in public securities.

` 1,000/-

S. 41AA

Failure without reasonable cause to comply with any directions issued under that section.

` 2,000/-

S. 59

Failure to pay contribution u/s. 58 by a trustee or by a person charging or collecting dharmada.

` 1,000/-

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