Societies Registration Act, 1860 | Section 15

Section 15 - Member Defined and Disqualified Members

Section 15 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Act 21 of 1860) explains who is recognised as a member of a registered society and when non-payment of subscription prevents a person from voting or being counted as a member in proceedings under the Act.

Text of Section 15: Member defined

For the purposes of this Act a member of a society shall be a person who, having been admitted therein according to the rules and regulations thereof, shall have paid a subscription, or shall have signed the roll or list of members thereof, and shall not have resigned in accordance with such rules and regulations.

Disqualified members. But in all proceedings under this Act no person shall be entitled to vote or be counted as a member whose subscription at the time shall have been in arrear for a period exceeding three months.

Who is a member under Section 15?

The statutory definition requires admission according to the society's rules and regulations. A person so admitted must have paid a subscription or signed the membership roll or list, and must not have resigned in accordance with the rules. The word or is significant: the provision states alternative methods of satisfying this part of the membership definition, subject to lawful admission and the governing rules.

Disqualification for subscription arrears

Section 15 separately restricts participation where a member's subscription has remained unpaid for more than three months at the relevant time. Such a person is not entitled to vote or be counted as a member in proceedings under the Act. The provision does not, by its own terms, automatically expel that person or declare membership permanently terminated.

Practical implications for registered societies

Admission: Check the society's rules, admission resolution or approval, and the applicable membership category.
Records: Maintain accurate membership rolls, subscriptions, receipts, resignation records and meeting registers.
Voting: Before proceedings under the Act, verify whether subscriptions are overdue by more than three months.
Disputes: Examine the governing rules, dates of payment and membership records before deciding eligibility.

State-specific law: The Societies Registration Act, 1860 has been amended or replaced in certain States and Union Territories. Membership, registers, voting and disqualification must be assessed under the legislation and rules applicable to the society's place of registration.

Related provisions

Section 12 deals with changes to the purposes of societies and amalgamation; Section 13 addresses dissolution; and Section 16 defines the governing body.

Official statutory reference

Consult the Societies Registration Act, 1860 - India Code (official text) for the Act and the relevant amendments. For a particular society, verify the applicable State legislation and registered bye-laws.

Updated: 5 October 2026. This article explains the general statutory provision and does not replace examination of applicable State law or the society's registered rules.