Rules 50 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.
Rules 50 to 52 give the Central Government a way to deal with a copyright society that is badly run. On a complaint it asks the society for a written statement, may order an inquiry, may suspend the registration for up to one year and appoint an administrator, and the inquiry and administrator rules say how each step works. These rules serve sections 33(4) and 33(5) of the Act.
On a complaint by the Registrar of Copyrights or a member, the Central Government gives the society a copy and requires a written statement within fifteen working days. If prima facie satisfied, it orders an inquiry by an officer not below Deputy Secretary and may suspend the registration for up to one year and appoint an administrator. The inquiry is to be completed in three months unless more time is allowed. During the suspension all powers of the society vest in the administrator and other bodies, except the general body, stand dissolved.
Which section the rules serve
Rules 50 to 52 serve section 33, especially the inquiry under section 33(4) and the administrator under section 33(5), as the rules themselves say. See our article on section 33. These are society-side obligations, and the procedure is run by the Central Government, not by a court. If your society has received such a complaint, or you are a member contemplating one, our legal dispute resolution team can advise.
Rule 50: order of inquiry, suspension and administrator
Sub-rule (1): the complaint and the written statement
"If the Central Government, on a complaint of the Registrar of Copyrights or a member of the copyright society, has reason to believe that the copyright society is being managed in a manner detrimental to the interests of its members concerned or for non-compliance of requirements under sections 33A, sub-section (3) of section 35 and section 36 of the Act or any change carried out in the instrument ... without prior notice to it shall, provide a copy of the complaint to the society and require the society to submit a written statement within fifteen working days."
| Trigger | Text |
|---|---|
| Who may complain | The Registrar of Copyrights or a member of the society |
| What the Government must believe | The society is managed in a manner detrimental to its members, or has failed to comply with section 33A (tariff scheme), section 35(3) (representation) or section 36 (returns), or has changed its instrument without prior notice |
| What it does | Provides a copy of the complaint and requires a written statement in fifteen working days |
The words "without prior notice to it" sit awkwardly in the printed sentence and may attach either to the change in the instrument or to the Government's duty to send the copy. The text does not settle which. Flag the slip and take care when relying on the clause.
Sub-rule (2): after the statement
If, after considering the written statement, the Central Government is prima facie satisfied, then it takes one of two routes:
| Route | What happens |
|---|---|
| (a) | It shall order an inquiry under section 33(4) and appoint an inquiry officer not below the rank of a Deputy Secretary to the Government of India. If, during the inquiry, it thinks it necessary in the interests of the members, it may by order suspend the registration for a period not exceeding one year, and shall appoint an administrator to discharge the society's functions |
| (b) | It may, in the interests of the members, suspend the registration for a period not exceeding one year and appoint an administrator, and further order an inquiry as per clause (a) |
So the inquiry is not optional in either route. The difference is one of sequence: in (a), suspension can come during the inquiry; in (b), suspension and the administrator come first and the inquiry follows.
Sub-rule (3): who can be administrator
"The person appointed as administrator shall be a person with sufficient experience in administration or accounting of copyright matters." The text does not define "sufficient experience" or name any qualification.
Rule 51: procedure for the inquiry
Sub-rule (1). The inquiry officer appointed under rule 50 "shall conduct the inquiry having regard to the principles of natural justice."
Sub-rule (2). The officer may, if necessary, engage a chartered accountant, an audit officer in the office of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, or any legal, financial or copyright consultant to assist.
Sub-rule (3). The society "shall render all assistance and shall make available all such documents as may be called for by the inquiry officer to enable him to complete the inquiry within a period of three months or such further time as may be allowed by the Central Government."
Note the structure of the three-month period: it is a target for completion of the inquiry, with further time at the Central Government's discretion; the text sets no outer limit and no consequence if the time is exceeded. The suspension, by contrast, has a ceiling of one year.
Rule 52: powers and functions of the administrator
Sub-rule (1). On appointment of the administrator under rule 50 read with section 33(5), "all powers of the copyright society shall vest in him and all other representative bodies or committees of the copyright society other than the general body shall stand dissolved."
Sub-rule (2). The administrator "shall arrange for the reconstitution of the dissolved bodies before the expiry of the period of suspension failing which, the bodies so superseded shall stand revived at the end of the period of suspension for their remaining term, excluding the period of suspension."
| Event | Effect |
|---|---|
| Administrator appointed | All powers of the society vest in the administrator; every body other than the general body stands dissolved |
| Before suspension ends | Administrator arranges reconstitution of the dissolved bodies |
| Suspension ends without reconstitution | The superseded bodies revive for their remaining term, excluding the period of suspension |
The general body is the one body that keeps its place; the text does not say what the general body may do during suspension.
An example
Ravi Sharma, a member of Lok Swar Society, complains to the Central Government that the society changed its articles without notice and has not submitted its returns. The Government sends the society a copy and gives fifteen working days for a written statement. Satisfied prima facie on reading it, the Government orders an inquiry by an officer of Deputy Secretary rank, and suspends the registration for six months, appointing an administrator with accounting experience. The Governing Council stands dissolved; the administrator arranges a fresh Council before the six months end. The inquiry officer engages a chartered accountant, and the society hands over its records in three months.
What the rules do not say
- No form for the complaint, and no fee.
- No time for the Central Government to act on the written statement.
- What the suspended society may do during suspension beyond the vesting of powers in the administrator.
- No appeal route against the order in these rules.
- No mention of the Board.
Need help with an inquiry or an administrator order?
Whether you manage a society or are a member with a complaint, the written statement, the inquiry and the suspension all run on short clocks. Our legal dispute resolution team can help prepare the papers.
Key takeaways
- On a complaint, the Government sends a copy and requires a written statement within fifteen working days.
- If prima facie satisfied, it orders an inquiry by an officer not below Deputy Secretary and may suspend the registration for up to one year with an administrator.
- The inquiry follows natural justice and is to be completed within three months or such further time as the Government allows.
- During suspension, the administrator holds all powers and other bodies except the general body stand dissolved.
- The text is as notified in 2013 with the 2016 amendment; check later amendments.
Read next
- Rule 53: cancellation of registration of a copyright society
- Rule 49: conditions for registration of a copyright society
- Sections 35–36A: control, returns and performing rights societies
Disclaimer: Based on the Copyright Rules, 2013 as notified (with the 2016 amendment), read with the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.