In a decisive enforcement move, the Registrar of Societies has suspended the registrations of over 250 clubs and associations across Punjab and Haryana for failing to comply with mandatory reporting and financial disclosure norms.

The suspended clubs were found in violation of key provisions under the Societies Registration Act, including non-submission of annual returns, audit reports, and failure to hold annual general meetings (AGMs) for multiple years. The crackdown follows a three-month compliance audit initiated earlier this year after mounting complaints about defunct or mismanaged clubs.

“Several clubs were operating without any transparency, and some hadn’t filed their returns for more than five years,” said R.K. Malhotra, Assistant Registrar (North Zone). “This action is a necessary step to restore accountability in the system.”

The suspended societies include recreational clubs, cultural groups, and sports associations — many of which reportedly continued to use their legal status for fundraising and grant applications despite being non-functional on the ground.

Registrar officials have issued notices to affected clubs, allowing a 60-day window to appeal and regularize their operations by submitting pending documents and explaining lapses. Failure to comply will result in permanent cancellation of registration and potential legal proceedings under the Act.

Legal experts note this is part of a broader move by authorities nationwide to clean up the registry and weed out shell entities. “These suspensions serve as a warning and a reminder that compliance is not optional,” said Adv. Meena Das, a specialist in society law.

The Registrar’s office has also announced plans to integrate digital monitoring tools to flag non-compliance in real time, ensuring timely interventions and improved oversight in the future.