Rules 1 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Rules, 1962 were made by the State of Madhya Pradesh to carry out the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951. Rules 1 to 5 give the short title and definitions, prescribe the two registers each Registrar keeps, add particulars and Form III to the application for registration, fix the registration fee as printed, and prescribe public notice and objections for the inquiry.
This article explains rules 1 to 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Rules, 1962 as amended up to the date of the English text consulted on 3 October 2026 (published without amendment footnotes; bracketed words show that the State has amended it). Check the current text with the State's Devasthan Department or Registrar of Public Trusts before relying on it.
The Rules were published in the Madhya Pradesh Rajpatra on 18-1-1963 under notification 5417-2981-2-A-(3), after previous publication under section 35(4) of the Act. Rule 3: each Registrar keeps a Register of Public Trusts (Form I) and a Register of all Properties (Form II). Rule 4: the application carries four more particulars, is in Form III, and carries the instrument and any scheme; for a trust with property below Rs. 2,000 property particulars are not needed; the fee is Rs. 2, Rs. 3 or Rs. 5 by value, in cash, as printed. Rule 5: public notice in Form IV or V, objections in duplicate within one month.
Where the Rules come from
The Rules begin: "In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951 (XXX of 1951), the State Government hereby makes the following rules, the same having been previously published as required by sub-section (4) of the said section". The rule-making power is explained in sections 35 to 38 of the Act. The Rules apply where the Act is in force; for extent, see sections 1 and 2. If you are preparing an application under these rules, our compliance documentation team can check it.
Rules 1 and 2: title and definitions
Rule 1. "These rules may be called the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Rules, 1962."
Rule 2. Two terms: (i) "Act" means the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951 (XXX of 1951), and any reference to a section, sub-section or clause is to a section, sub-section or clause of the Act; and (ii) "Form" means a form appended to the Rules. The Rules use Roman numerals for their Forms (Form I to Form XIII), so this article uses the same numerals.
Rule 3: the registers
In the office of every Registrar of Public Trusts there shall be maintained, for public trusts registered in his district: (i) a Register of Public Trusts in Form I; and (ii) a Register of all Properties of Public Trusts in Form II. This is the prescription called for by section 3(2) of the Act.
| Form | Heading as printed | Main columns |
|---|---|---|
| I | Register of Public Trusts | Serial number; name of trust and place of principal office; names and addresses of trustees and managers; mode of succession; object; particulars of documents creating the trust; other particulars; particulars of the scheme, if any; description and value of property; remarks (ten columns) |
| II | Register of The Property of the Public Trusts | Movable property (description, estimated value, in whose possession, remarks); immovable property (villages, nature, tenure, survey, Khasra or municipal number, area, assessment, estimated value, encumbrances, title deeds); average income from movable and immovable property; average expenditure; remarks (eighteen columns) |
Rule 4: the application for registration
Rule 4(1). The application, "in addition to the particulars specified in clauses (i) to (ix) of sub-section (3) of Section 4", shall contain: (a) particulars of documents creating the trust; (b) particulars of encumbrances, if any, on trust property (printed "or trust property"); (c) particulars of the scheme, if any; and (d) particulars of title-deeds to trust property and the names of trustees in possession of them.
Rule 4(2). "The application shall be in Form III."
Rule 4(3). The application, in addition to a copy of the instrument of trust, shall be accompanied by a copy of the scheme, if any, in operation.
Rule 4(4). "In respect of trust the value of whose property is less than Rs. 2,000 it shall not be necessary for an applicant to give the particulars of the trust property of such trust." This is the use of the proviso to section 4(3) of the Act.
Rule 4(5): the fee. "The fee to accompany the application shall be in cash and of the following amount", as printed in the published copy:
| Value of the property of the public trust | Fee as printed |
|---|---|
| Below Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 2 |
| Exceeds Rs. 5,000 but does not exceed Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 3 |
| Exceeds Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 5 |
Section 4(2) of the Act sets a ceiling of five rupees; the top fee in rule 4(5) matches it. The amounts are quoted as printed. Whether they have since changed is not shown in the copy, so confirm with the Registrar's office.
Form III is the application in the form of an address to the Registrar of Public Trusts of the district, applying under section 4 of the Act. Its headings run from origin, nature and object, place of principal office, working trustee and manager, and mode of succession, through documents creating the trust, the scheme, movable and immovable property (with an expert's valuation report), sources of income, average gross annual income and expenditure under five heads, encumbrances and title-deeds, to the normal budget, remarks, the fee and an address for communication. It ends with a declaration about previous applications before any other Registrar, the applicant's signature and a verification. The form is described here by its headings only.
Rule 5: manner of inquiry
Rule 5(1). On receipt of an application under section 4(1) or section 5(1), or on his own motion, the Registrar "shall cause to be issued a public notice in Form IV or Form V, as the case may be". The notice shall, in addition to publication in the official Gazette, be published by affixing copies (a) on the notice-board at the office of the Registrar of Public Trusts and of the Tahsildar of the Tahsil in which the principal office or place of business of the trust is situate, and (b) at the places where the immovable property of the trust is situate.
Rule 5(2). Any objection to the registration "shall be filed in duplicate within one month from the date of the publication of the notice under sub-rule (1)". One copy is furnished to the applicant by the Registrar.
Rule 5(3). Sections 28, 29 and 30 of the Act apply to all inquiries held under section 5, so the Registrar has the civil court powers in section 28 (see sections 28 to 34A).
Forms IV and V are both headed "Notice". Form IV is used where a person has applied under section 4; it gives the date on which the application will be taken up and invites any person interested to file a written statement in duplicate within one month and appear on that date. Form V is used where it appears to the Registrar that the property is a public trust within section 2(4); it announces his proposal to inquire under section 5(1) and invites the same written statements. Each has a schedule for the trust's name, address and property, and ends with the Registrar's seal and date.
Worked example
An invented trust, Shri Indore Kabir Panth Ashram Trust, has property valued at Rs. 7,500. Its working trustee, Mr Vishnu Chouhan, files Form III, attaches the trust deed and an expert's valuation of the land, and pays the fee in cash; on the figures printed in the published copy, a value above Rs. 5,000 and up to Rs. 10,000 attracts the second fee line, Rs. 3. The Registrar issues Form IV, publishes it in the Gazette and affixes it at his office, the Tahsildar's office and at the property. A neighbour files an objection in duplicate within one month.
Practical points
- Use Form III and add the four rule 4(1) particulars.
- Attach the instrument of trust, the scheme (if any) and an expert's valuation report for immovable property.
- Pay the fee in cash and confirm the current amount with the Registrar.
- Watch the Gazette, the Registrar's and Tahsildar's notice boards and the property for the public notice.
- File objections in duplicate within one month from publication.
Need help with the application?
The application is the base of the register entry, and mistakes appear again at inquiry. We can prepare the application, assemble the valuation and track the notice period. Begin through our compliance documentation service.
Key takeaways
- Each Registrar keeps a Register of Public Trusts (Form I) and a Register of all Properties (Form II) (rule 3).
- The application is in Form III with four added particulars, the instrument of trust and any scheme (rule 4).
- A trust with property below Rs. 2,000 need not give the property particulars.
- The fee is Rs. 2, Rs. 3 or Rs. 5 by value, in cash, as printed (rule 4(5)).
- Public notice is in Form IV or V, and objections are filed in duplicate within one month (rule 5).
Read next
- Section 4 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951: registration of public trusts
- Sections 5 to 8 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951: inquiry, findings, entries and civil suit
- Rules 6 to 9 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Rules, 1962: changes, registers and sanction applications
Disclaimer: Based on the English texts of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951 and Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Rules, 1962, as consulted on 3 October 2026; those copies do not state the date of their last amendment. Later amendments, State notifications and current fees should be checked with the State authorities. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.