The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, approved the Kerala Societies Registration Bill, 2025. This significant legislation is designed to replace two existing laws from before 1956 with a single, unified legal framework for all societies operating within the state. The passage of the Bill occurred amidst considerable uproar from the Opposition regarding the controversial Sabarimala gold ‘theft’ allegations.
Minister for Registration, Kadannapally Ramachandran, highlighted the Bill’s importance, describing it as an “important, timely, and historic step” for the State’s Registration department. He emphasized that this new law would consolidate and modernize the fragmented legal landscape.
Previously, societies in Kerala were governed by two separate acts: the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (applicable to the old Malabar region), and the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act, 1955 (for the old Travancore-Cochin region). The new Bill seeks to create a uniform law that applies across the entire state.
The Bill was initially presented to the Assembly on September 29 and subsequently referred to a Subject Committee for detailed review. During his address, Mr. Ramachandran pointed out that a significant challenge under the old system was the low compliance rate, with only one-fifth of the more than 5 lakh registered societies submitting their annual returns on time. The existing laws covered a vast array of organizations, from prominent bodies like the Kerala Cricket Association, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, to local rural libraries and even residents’ associations.
According to the Minister, the lack of a single, consistent law had long been a hindrance. He stated, “The Bill is aimed at simplifying procedures and introducing efficiency and transparency. It is also aimed at checking paper organizations and the possibility of fraud.” The comprehensive legislation addresses various aspects, including the registration process, requirements for annual general body meetings, filing of returns, procedures for handling offenses and litigations, and rules for the amalgamation and dissolution of societies.
Opposition Members Express Dissent
Despite the Bill’s general intent to unify laws for literary, scientific, and charitable societies, members of the Opposition’s United Democratic Front (UDF) on the Subject Committee registered their dissent. Their objections, documented in a note appended to the committee’s report, highlighted perceived shortcomings in the Bill’s provisions. Specifically, the UDF members raised concerns about an alleged lack of mechanisms to ensure transparency, establish a comprehensive database of existing societies, and prevent unnecessary legal disputes related to societal activities.