20To what societies the Act shall apply

The following societies may be registered under this Act:--

Charitable societies, the military orphan funds or societies established at the several presidencies of India, societies established for the promotion of science, literature, or the fine arts, for instruction, the diffusion of useful knowledge, ¹[the diffusion of political education], the foundation or maintenance of libraries or reading-rooms for general use among the members or open to the public, or public museums and galleries of paintings and other works of art, collections of natural history, mechanical and philosophical inventions, instruments, or designs.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Assam

Insertion of new sections 21 and 22 in Act XXI of 1860.-- After section 20 of the principal Act, the following new section shall be inserted, namely:--

“21. Penalties.--(1) if the President, Secretary or any other person authorized in this behalf by a resolution of the governing body of the society fails to comply with the provisions of section 4, he shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and in case of a continuing breach, shall also be punishable with fine not exceeding fifty rupees for each day, during the period the breach continues after first conviction for such offence.

(2) If any person willfully makes or causes to be made any false entry in, or any omission from, the list required by section 4, or in or from any statement of copy of rules or of alterations in rules sent to the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies under section 4A, he shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.

22. Procedure.--(1) No Court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the First Class shall try an offence punishable under this Act.

(2) No Court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act except upon complaint made by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies or any other person, authorized in writing by him, in this behalf.”