Sections 56R and 56RR 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.
This article explains the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 as it applies in the State of Maharashtra, formerly the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. Section 56R lets the State Government supersede a committee of management that cannot or does not perform its duties; section 56RR lets it end the terms of all members and appoint a Government officer as Administrator of the endowment, for a limited time.
This article explains sections 56R and 56RR as amended up to Maharashtra Act No. XXXVI of 2018 (in force 21 May 2018), per the official text of the Law and Judiciary Department modified up to 19 December 2018. Maharashtra amended the Act again in 2019, 2020, 2024 and 2025; the amending texts consulted do not change these sections, but the current text should be checked on the Charity Commissioner's website before relying on them.
Section 56R: if the State Government is of opinion that a committee is unable to perform, has persistently made default, or has exceeded or abused its powers, it may, by Gazette notification, supersede the committee for a stated period, after giving it a reasonable opportunity to show cause. Section 56RR: by notification it may terminate all members' appointments and appoint a Government officer as Administrator for up to three years at a time and five years in all, who is deemed the sole trustee. Both sections apply only within Chapter VII-A.
Scope
These sections are in Chapter VII-A and concern committees for the endowments explained in Sections 56C and 56D. They are the strongest powers of the State Government over a committee. A milder power is the Charity Commissioner's step in Sections 56Q and 56QQ. Committee members who face a notice, and those who wish to bring a complaint, can look to legal dispute resolution support for the next step.
Section 56R(1): grounds and notice
"If the State Government is of opinion that a committee is unable to perform or has persistently made default in the performance of, the duties imposed upon it by or under this Act, or has exceeded or abused its powers, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, supersede the committee for such period as may be specified in the notification."
| Ground | Text |
|---|---|
| 1 | The committee "is unable to perform ... the duties imposed upon it by or under this Act" |
| 2 | It "has persistently made default in the performance of" those duties |
| 3 | It "has exceeded or abused its powers" |
The proviso: "before issuing a notification under this sub-section, the State Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the committee to show cause, why it should not be superseded and consider the explanations and objections if any of the committee." So the committee must have a notice and a chance to reply, and the State Government must consider what it says. A notification issued without that step would not follow the section.
Section 56R(2): what happens on supersession
Upon publication of the notification:
- "all the members of the committee shall, as from the date of supersession, vacate their offices as such members";
- "all the powers, duties and functions" of the committee "shall, during the period of supersession, be exercised and performed by such person or persons as the State Government having regard to the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 56G may direct"; and
- "all property vested in, or the management of which is vested in, the committee shall during the period of supersession vest in the State Government."
The reference to section 56G(1) means the persons chosen to act must not be persons disqualified under the list explained in Sections 56E to 56H. The property vests in the State Government only "during the period of supersession".
Section 56R(3): after the period
On the expiry of the period in the notification, the State Government may: (a) "extend the period of supersession for such further period as it may consider necessary", or (b) "reconstitute the committee in the manner provided in section 56E". The sub-section prints no limit on the extension.
Section 56RR: Administrator
Section 56RR was inserted by Mah. 43 of 1981, s. 2, as the footnote prints. It begins "Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter or any other provisions of this Act or in any judgement, decree, order or scheme of any Court, Charity Commissioner or any other authority". The condition is that a committee has been appointed under section 56E for one or more endowments, and the State Government is of opinion that, for better management, the management "should be taken over temporarily by the State Government and then should be governed by a scheme or schemes framed by the Charity Commissioner or should be handed over again to the committee as reconstituted". It may then, by Gazette notification:
| Clause | Power |
|---|---|
| (a) | "terminate the appointment of all the existing members of the committee (including the Chairman and the Treasurer), even before the expiry of their term of office of five years, on and from such date as may be specified in the notification, whereupon they shall be deemed to have vacated their office on that date" |
| (b) | "appoint a Government officer, from time to time, as the Administrator of the Committee, for such period not exceeding three years as may be specified in the notification, which may be extended by like notification, from time to time, so, however, that the total period shall not exceed five years" |
The proviso says the Administrator ceases to hold office from the day the committee is reconstituted, and, if the Charity Commissioner frames a scheme for an endowment, from the day the scheme comes into operation, in respect of that endowment. Schemes of the Charity Commissioner may be framed under the Act; the officer route for schemes is explained in Section 50A.
Sub-section (2). During the Administrator's term, all the powers, duties and functions of the committee, its members and sub-committees under the Act or any other law "shall be exercised, performed and discharged by the Administrator and he shall be deemed to be the sole trustee in respect of the endowments under his management under section 56D".
Sub-section (3). The Administrator may delegate any of his powers, duties and functions to any officer or servant of the committee or, with the State Government's previous approval, to any other Government officer.
Sub-section (4). The Administrator and any Government officer to whom he has delegated receive "such salary and allowances from the Management Fund and be subject to such other conditions of service as the State Government may, by general or special order, determine."
Illustration. A State-notified committee for a group of temples in a district has been in constant disagreement and has not kept the accounts the Chapter requires. The State Government issues a show-cause notice and, after considering the reply, supersedes the committee for one year under section 56R. Later, using section 56RR, it terminates the members' appointments, appoints a Deputy Collector as Administrator for three years and extends the term once, so that the total does not pass five years. The Administrator is the sole trustee during the term and his pay comes from the Management Fund.
Need help if a committee faces supersession?
A show-cause notice needs a careful written reply. Our team can prepare the reply and represent the committee through legal dispute resolution services.
Key takeaways
- The State Government may supersede a committee that is unable to perform, persistently defaults or exceeds or abuses its powers, after a reasonable opportunity to show cause.
- On supersession, members vacate, the State directs who exercises the powers and the property vests in the State Government for the period.
- After the period the State Government may extend it or reconstitute the committee.
- Under section 56RR it may terminate all members and appoint a Government officer as Administrator for up to three years at a time and five years in all.
- The Administrator is deemed the sole trustee and is paid from the Management Fund.
Read next
- Sections 56Q and 56QQ: enforcing duties and the Management Fund
- Sections 56S and 56T: regulations and provisions not applying to endowments
- Sections 56E to 56H: committees of management, term and disqualification
Disclaimer: Based on the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 as modified up to 19 December 2018 in the official text of the Law and Judiciary Department, Government of Maharashtra, as consulted on 3 October 2026. Maharashtra amended the Act again in 2019, 2020, 2024 and 2025; the current text, the Maharashtra Public Trusts Rules and the Charity Commissioner's circulars should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.