Govt to amend Maha Public Trusts Act; Cabinet okays proposal

The state government will amend the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act making it mandatory for any charitable organisation, except public trusts, to take prior permission of the Charity Commissioner's office before accepting donations.
Assistant Charity Commissioner and Deputy Charity Commissioner have been designated as the authority to seek prior permission.
The proposal was cleared in the Cabinet meeting held today.
As per the proposed amendment, all kinds of charitable trusts, including the religious ones, will have to inform the Deputy or Assistant Charity Commissioner before taking any monetary contribution.
The process of permission will be online and the reply is expected within seven days. If there is a delay, permission would be deemed as given.

The move will enable the state government to monitor the income of all the charitable trusts henceforth. This will also help the government to stop the misuse of the monetary contribution and curb corruption.
If the donation is illegal, the amount will be confiscated and transferred to the Charitable Trust Management Fund.
The amendments will be passed in the State Legislature and sent to the Centre for its approval.