Section 3 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.
Section 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951 makes the Collector of a district the Registrar of Public Trusts for the public trusts whose principal office or place of business is in that district, and requires the Registrar to keep a register of public trusts. The Act applies in Madhya Pradesh.
This article explains section 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951 (M.P. Act No. 30 of 1951) 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 Collector is the Registrar of Public Trusts for every public trust whose principal office or principal place of business, as declared in the application under section 4(3), is in his district (section 3(1)). The Registrar maintains a register of public trusts, and such other books and registers, in the form prescribed (section 3(2)). The word "Collector" is in square brackets in the published copy, which shows the State has amended it. The Rules prescribe Form I (register of public trusts) and Form II (register of all properties).
Sub-section (1): who is the Registrar
"The shall be the Registrar of Public Trusts in respect of every public trust the principal office or the principal place of business of which as declared in the application made under sub-section (3) of Section 4 is situate in his direct." The printed word "direct" is a typing slip; the sense is "district", as the Rules also say that each Registrar's registers are kept "in respect of public trusts registered in his district". The bracketed "" shows that the words were amended, but the published copy does not give the amending Act or the earlier wording.
Two points follow from the sub-section:
- Test of jurisdiction. The test is the place declared in the application. A trust's papers are therefore filed with the Collector of the district in which the trust declares its principal office or principal place of business.
- One person, one role. Section 2(6) of the Act defines "Registrar" as the Registrar of Public Trusts, and section 3(1) says who that is. The Collector acts as Registrar for this Act and does not become a separate officer.
Sub-section (4) of section 4 deals with an application filed before more than one Registrar, and decides which Registrar has jurisdiction; see section 4. Section 34A allows the Registrar to delegate powers and duties to a revenue officer of his district not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Officer, and section 34 lets him forward an inquiry to a revenue officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector; both are explained in sections 28 to 34A. If you are not sure which Registrar covers your trust, our compliance documentation team can check the declared office and the district.
Sub-section (2): the register
"The Registrar shall maintain a register of public trusts, and such other books and registers and in such form as may be prescribed." Section 2(5) defines "register" as the register maintained under section 3(2). The register is where entries are made after the inquiry (section 7) and after a change (section 9), and the entries are, subject to the Act, "final and conclusive".
The Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Rules, 1962 prescribe the following, as printed:
| Rule | Register or form | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 3(i) | Register of Public Trusts, Form I | In the office of every Registrar, for public trusts registered in his district |
| Rule 3(ii) | Register of all Properties of Public Trusts, Form II | In the same office |
| Rule 7 | Register in Form VII | Kept by a Collector who receives, under section 10, copies of entries about immovable property in his district of trusts registered elsewhere |
| Rule 8 | Register of decisions of Courts, Form VIII | In the Registrar's office |
The Rules are explained in rules 1 to 5 and rules 6 to 9. The text consulted prints the forms but not the notifications that bring the Act into force in each region; see sections 1 and 2 for the position on extent.
How the register is used
The register is the Registrar's record of every trust registered in his district. A person who wants to know whether a trust is registered, who its trustees are or what property it holds will look to the entries. Section 19 of the Act makes the budget, balance sheet, income and expenditure account and audit report open to inspection by any person having interest, and section 20 allows certified copies, on fees prescribed; those provisions are explained in sections 18 to 21. The text of section 3 itself does not say that the register is open to inspection, and it prescribes no fee.
The section at a glance
| Sub-section | Subject | Rule in short |
|---|---|---|
| 3(1) | Registrar | The Collector, for trusts whose declared principal office or place of business is in his district |
| 3(2) | Register | A register of public trusts and other books and registers in the prescribed form |
Worked example
An invented trust, Shri Gwalior Gopal Mandir Trust, declares in its application that its principal office is in Gwalior district. The Collector of Gwalior is its Registrar. He keeps its entry in Form I and its property in Form II. The trust also owns agricultural land in Morena district, so under section 10 the Registrar forwards a copy of the entries to the Collector of Morena, who keeps an abstract in a register in Form VII. The trust's manager, Mr Rajendra Tiwari, files all changes with the Gwalior Registrar.
Practical points
- Declare the principal office or place of business accurately in the application; it decides which Collector is the Registrar.
- Find out which Collector covers your district before filing.
- Do not assume that a Collector in another district can register a trust whose declared office is elsewhere.
- Keep the registration number and the Registrar's entry in your records.
- The word "Collector" is bracketed in the published copy, so confirm the current officer designation with the district office.
Need help finding the right Registrar?
If your trust has offices or property in more than one district of Madhya Pradesh, the first step is to identify the right Registrar and the right register. We can review the declared office and the trust papers and prepare the filing. Write to us through compliance documentation to begin.
Key takeaways
- The Collector is the Registrar of Public Trusts for every trust whose declared principal office or place of business is in his district (section 3(1)).
- The Registrar maintains a register of public trusts and other prescribed books and registers (section 3(2)).
- The Rules prescribe Form I for the register of public trusts and Form II for the register of all properties.
- A Collector who receives entries about property in his district of a trust registered elsewhere keeps a register in Form VII.
- The bracketed word "Collector" in the published copy shows the State has amended the text.
Read next
- Section 4 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951: registration of public trusts
- Rules 1 to 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Rules, 1962: register and application for registration
- Sections 1 and 2 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951: extent and definitions
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.