In a major push for administrative efficiency and citizen-centric governance, the Registrar of Societies has announced a revamped timeline for addressing complaints filed by housing societies, cooperative associations, and charitable trusts. The move aims to reduce delays in handling grievances and ensure time-bound justice in disputes ranging from election irregularities to financial mismanagement.

Under the revised framework, which comes into effect from June 15, 2025, all complaints submitted to the Registrar’s office will be categorized and tracked using a digital docket system. The resolution timeline has been streamlined to 30 days for general grievances, 45 days for election disputes, and 60 days for financial or audit-related complaints.

“This reform addresses the long-standing demand for faster grievance handling and increased accountability,” said Ramesh Joshi, Joint Registrar, Maharashtra. “Citizens should not have to wait endlessly for resolution, especially in matters affecting day-to-day governance of their societies.”

A new Complaint Monitoring Dashboard will allow complainants to track the status of their cases in real time. Each complaint will be assigned to a dedicated officer, and escalations will be automated in case of delay.

Legal experts and society federations have welcomed the change. “This overhaul brings clarity and builds trust in the system. Timely intervention can prevent many issues from escalating into litigation,” noted advocate Meera Balan, who specializes in cooperative housing law.

In addition, societies will soon receive official SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) outlining how to file complaints effectively, what documents to attach, and what outcomes to expect.

The revamp reflects a broader trend of administrative modernization, aligning cooperative society governance with digital transparency and citizen convenience.