Legislative Approval in the Punjab Assembly
The Punjab Assembly has passed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026 by a majority vote, introducing key regulatory changes for religious seminaries operating within the province. Under the provisions of the newly approved legislation, seminaries registered with the federal Directorate General of Religious Education will no longer be required to complete a separate registration process in Punjab.
The measure applies to institutions across different stages of compliance. Seminaries that have already attained registration through the Directorate General of Religious Education will be released from any obligation to register again at the provincial tier. Furthermore, religious institutions that complete their registration with the federal body in the future will also be fully exempt from seeking additional provincial approval.
Statutory Changes and Objectives
The primary aim of the legislative update is to address systemic complications that have previously arisen from dual administrative oversight. Lawmakers designed the amendment to remove administrative friction and resolve legal uncertainties surrounding the status of seminaries, establishing clear standards for their official recognition.
To formalize this mechanism, the bill introduces a new statutory provision. Specifically, it proposes the insertion of clause 1A into Section 21 of the Societies Registration Act. This targeted addition establishes the legal foundation that explicitly exempts federally registered institutions from parallel provincial mandates.
Legislative Process and Next Steps
The provision extending the exemption to future seminary registrations was incorporated following a recommendation from the Punjab Assembly Standing Committee. Once the standing committee finalized and submitted its report on the proposed reforms, the bill was laid before the legislative chamber, where it secured final passage through a majority vote.
Following its clearance in the assembly, the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026 has been forwarded to the Governor of Punjab. The legislation will officially be enacted into law once the Governor grants final assent.
