THE HINDI SAHITYA SAMMELAN (REORGANIZATION), ACT, 1956

English — official source version

36of1956english.pdf.txt

  

642 

 THE HINDI SAHITYA SAMMELAN (REORGANIZATION),  

ACT, 19561 

(U. P. ACT No. XXXVI of 1956) 

 Amended by  

U. P. Act XXI of 1957 

 [Passed in Hindi by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly 

on August 23, 1956 and by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council 

on October 9, 1956. 

Received the Assent of the Governor on November 14, 

1956, under Article 200 of the Constitution of India and was 

published in the Uttar Pradesh Gazette Extraordinary, dated 

November 21, 1956. ] 

 [ Authoritative English text of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan 

(Punassangaton) Adhiniyam, 1956 ] 

 AN 

ACT 

to recognize and reconstitute the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan 

 WHEREAS the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan was incorporated in the 

year 1911 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 ; 

WHEREAS it is expedient to reorganize and reconstitute it ; 

It is hereby enacted in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India 

as follows : 

Short title  and 
commencement 

1. (1) This Act may be called the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan 

(Reorganization) Act, 1956. 

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State 

Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint in this 

behalf.  

Definitions 2. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject 

or context :– 

(a) “Interim Board” means the Interim Board established under 

section 8 of this Act ; 

 (b) “Interim period” means the period between the date of 

commencement of this Act and the cessation of the Interim Board in 

accordance with the provisions of section 14 of this Act ;  

 (c) “Niyamawali” means the Niyamawali framed or amended 

under and in accordance with the provisions of section 7 and includes 

the Niyamawali framed under and in pursuance of section 11 ;  

(d) “Sammelan” means the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan constituted 

under section 3; and   

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, please see Uttar Pradesh Gazette (Extraordinary), dated April 2, 

1956.  



[The Hindi Sahitya Sammellan (Reorganization), Act, 1956]  

644 

 (e) “Sthayi Samiti” means the Sthayi Samiti constituted in 

accordance with the Niyamawali.   

Establishment 
and 

incorporation 
of the 
Sammelan.  

3. (1) The first members of the Sammelan and all persons who 

may hereafter become members thereof so long as they continue to be 

members and such bodies as may be constituted by the Sammelan for 

its purposes, in accordance with the Niyamawali are hereby 

constituted a body corporated under the name of Hindi Sahitya 

Sammelan.   

 (2) The Sammelan shall have perpetual succession and a 

common seal and shall sue and be sued by the said name.  

(3) The Head Officer of the Sammelan shall be at Allahabad.  

(4) The first members of the Sammelan shall consist of — 

 (a) persons who, on the date immediately preceding the date of 

commencement of this Act, were vishist sadasya of the Hindi Sahitya 

Sammelan registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 

(hereinafter called the Society) ; 

 (b) persons who, on the aforesaid date were Sthayi Sadasya of 

the said Society ; 

(c) persons who have been Presidents of the Society ; and  

 (d) persons who were awarded the Mangala Prasad Paritoshik 

by the Society.  

(5) The subsequent membership of the Sammelan shall be in 

accordance with the Niyamawali.  

Aims and 
objects of the 
Sammelan 

4. The aims and objects of the Sammelan shall be : 

(1) to work for the promotion, development and advancement of 

Hindi language, Hindi literature and Devnagri Script in India and 

foreign countries ; 

 (2) to create, print and publish Hindi literature ; 

(3) to arrange for the holding of examinations through the 

medium of Hindi language and to confer degrees ;  

 (4) to establish and maintain schools, colleges and other 

institutions for instructions in Hindi language and literature and also 

to affiliate schools, colleges and other institutions for its examinations; 

 (5) to affiliate institutions having for their object the promotion 

of Hindi language and literature ; 

(6) to award honorary and other degrees and academic 

distinctions to persons who may have rendered distinguished service 

to the cause of Hindi ;  

 (7) to confer Paritoshiks on distinguished scholars in Hindi ; 

(8) to promote and encourage research in connection with Hindi 

language and literature; and  



[The Hindi Sahitya Sammellan (Reorganization), Act, 1956]  

646 

 (9) to take all other steps which may seem necessary and 

suitable for the fulfillment of the aforesaid aims and objects.  

Power and 
functions 

5. The Sammelan shall perform its duties and discharge its 

functions in accordance with the provision of the Niyamawali.  

Vesting of 
rights and 
properties 

6. (1) The Society shall, as from the date of commencement of 

this Act, cease to exist and function as such.  

(2) As from the commencement of this Act — 

 (a) all rights and all properties movable or immovable which, 

prior to the said commencement, vested in or belonged to the said 

Society shall vest in and belong to the Sammelan established by the 

Act ; 

 (b) all the debts and liabilities of the said Society shall be 

transferred to the Sammelan and shall thereafter be discharged and 

satisfied by it out of the aforesaid properties ; 

 (c) any reference to the Society in any instrument, will, deed or 

document, of whatever nature, including deeds containing any 

bequest, gift or trust, executed prior to the said commencement in 

favour of the said Society, shall be construed as references to the 

Sammelan established by this Act, and  

 (d) all schools colleges and other institutions affiliated with the 

Society prior to the said commencement shall become affiliated to the 

Sammelan on the same terms and conditions unless otherwise 

specified by the Sammelan.  

Niyamawali  7. (1) The Sammelan may frame a Niyamawali for the purpose 

of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act : 

Provided that the first Niyamawali shall be framed in 

accordance with the provisions of section 11.  

 
(2) The Niyamawali shall provide for the constitution and 

establishment of a Sthayi Samiti which shall be the governing body of 

the Sammelan.  

 
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing 

provisions the Niyamawali may provide for all or any of the following 

matters, namely — 

 
(a) the matters relating to membership, including qualifications, 

disqualifications, resignation and cessation of members of the 

Sammelan ; 

(b) the powers and functions of the Sthayi Samiti.  

 
(c) the matters relating to the constitutions establishment, 

powers and functions of the Committees and Authorities of the 

Sammelan ;  

 



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648 

 
(d) the conduct of elections for the constitution of the Sthayi 

Samiti and other Committees and Authorities provided in the 

Niyamawali and the decision on doubts and disputes at or in 

connection with the said elections ; 

 
(e) the manner and the procedure for the discharge of duties 

performance of functions and exercise of powers of the Sammelan, the 

Sthayi Samiti Committee and other Authorities provided under the 

Niyamawali ; 

 
(f) establishment and maintenance of a fund for carrying out 

the aims and objects of the Sammelan ;  

(g) the manner and the procedure of application of, and 

payment from the fund referred to in clause (f) 

 
(h) the procedure and the forms for the maintenance of books of 

accounts and other registers and statements for the purposes of this 

Act ;  

(i) the appointment, control and other conditions of service of 

the paid employees of the Sammelan.  

 
(j) the conduct of correspondence, execution of documents and 

contracts for and on behalf of the Sammelan, the Sthayi Samiti and 

other Committees and Authorities provided in the Niyamawali ;  

 
(k) the conduct and prosecution of suits and proceedings by or 

against the Sammelan, the Sthayi Samiti and other Committees or 

Authorities ; 

 
(l) the matters relating to the affiliation of schools, colleges and 

other institutions ;  

(m) the matters relating to the award of degrees and academic 

distinctions ;   

 
(n) the matters relating to the conferment of Paritoshiks ; 

(o) the procedure for the amendment of the Niyamawali, and  

(p) generally for such other matters which the Sammelan may 

consider necessary for carrying out its aims and objects.   

 
(4) The Sammelan shall have powers to amend, from time to 

time the Niyamawali including the first Niyamawali framed under 

section 11 in accordance with the procedure prescribed therein.  

 
(5) A copy of the Niyamawali and the amendments made therein 

from time to time shall be forwarded to the State Government as soon 

as they are made.  

Constitution 
of the 
Interim 

Board. 

8. (1) There shall be established an Interim Board for the 

purposes of ,– 

(a) framing the first Niyamawali ; 

(b) holding first elections to the Sthayi Samiti ; 



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650 

 
(c) carrying on the administration of the affairs of the 

Sammelan during the Interim period. 

(2) The Interim Board shall consist of, — 

(a) a Chairman to be nominated by the State Government ; 

 
(b) a Secretary to be nominated by the State Government and ; 

(c) nine other members to be nominated by the State 

Government.   

 
(3) The Interim Board shall take over charge as from the date 

its establishment is notified by the state Government in the official 

Gazette.  

(4) The quorum for a meeting of the Interim Board shall be 

three members.  

 
(5) In case of any vacancy occurring in the membership of the 

Interim Board, by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise, the 

remaining members of the Interim Board shall fill up such vacancy by 

co-option but no act done or resolution passed by the Interim Board 

shall be considered to be invalid merely by reason of any such vacancy 

having remained unfilled at the time of such act or resolution.  

 
(6) All decisions of the Interim Board shall be in accordance 

with the opinion of the majority of members present and voting at a 

meeting of the Interim Board.  

Interim 
Board to take 
over charge 
of 
management 
of the 
Sammelan 
and its 
properties 

9. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7 of this Act 

or in any other law, the Interim Board shall, as from the date of 

commencement of its establishment be charged with the management, 

control and administration of affairs of the Sammelan and shall take 

over charge of all its properties including funds and properties which 

have vested in the Sammelan under section 6.  

List of first 
members.  

10. (1) The Interim Board shall, within thirty days of the date of 

its establishment, cause to be prepared, subject to such instructions if 

any, as it may receive from the State Government, a list of all persons 

who are to be considered as first members of the Sammelan within the 

meaning of section 3.  

 
(2) The list shall be published in such manner as may be 

prescribed by the State Government.  

 
(3) If at any time after the publication of list of first members 

under sub-section (2) it appears to the Interim Board that the name of 

any person has been wrongly omitted from or wrongly entered in the 

list it may order the name to be inserted in or deleted from, the said 

list and such name shall be published in the manner prescribed by the 

State Government. Where the name of a person has been inserted as 

aforesaid, such person shall be treated in all respects as if his name 

had been inserted in the list at the time it was prepared under sub-

section (1).   

 



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652 

 
(4) No person other than the persons named in the list prepared 

under this section shall be considered as first member of the 

Sammelan within the meaning of section 3.  

 
(5) The Court shall take judicial notice of the said list and shall 

regard it as conclusive evidence that the persons named therein are 

the first members of the Sammelan.  

Framing of 
the first 

Niyamawali 

11. (1) The Interim Board shall, within a period of 1 [twelve] 

months from the date of its establishment 2[or within such further 

period as may be specified by the State Government from time to time 

in this behalf] frame the first Niyamawali in respect of all or any of the 

matters specified in section 7.  

 
(2) A draft of the Niyamawali proposed to be framed under sub-

section (1) shall be sent to the State Government for approval.  

(3) The State Government shall, as soon as may be, after receipt 

of the draft, consider the same and may approve it with or without 

modifications.    

 
(4) The Niyamawali as approved by the State Government shall 

be published by the Interim Board in the Manner prescribed by the 

State Government.  

Constitution 
of Sthayi 
Samiti by the 

Interim 
Board  

12. The Interim Board shall within a period of 3[twelve] months 

from the date of its establishment or 4[within such further period as 

may be specified by the State Government from time to time in this 

behalf] arrange to hold the first elections to the Sthayi Samiti in 

accordance with the provisions of the Niyamawali and take such other 

steps as may be necessary for its due constitution and establishment 

within the period specified as aforesaid.  

Power of the 
Interim 
Board. 

13. In addition to and without prejudice to the powers 

conferred by this act, the Interim Board shall, during the interim 

period exercise, for and on behalf of the Sammelan, the powers and 

perform the duties and functions hereinafter specified, that is to say,—  

 
(a) to realize all rents, or other dues payable to the Sammelan 

and receive aids, donations, subscriptions, examination and other fees 

and all other sums, paid to it ;  

 
(b) to spend or sanction the expenditure of funds belonging to 

the Sammelan, as the Interim Board, may, in its discretion consider 

necessary for performing its functions and carrying out its duties ; 

 
(c) to operate upon all bank or other accounts of the Sammelan, 

and for the purpose, to authorize one or more of its office-bearers from 

amongst  its  members  to operate  upon such accounts or to sign bills,  

—————————————————————————————————————————— 
1.  Subs.  by S.  2 (i) of U. P. Act XXI of 1957 for [twelve].   

2.  Add  by S. 2 (ii) ibid.  

3.  Subs.  by S. 3 (i) ibid for [twelve].  

4.  Add  by S. 3 (ii) ibid. 



[The Hindi Sahitya Sammellan (Reorganization), Act, 1956]  

654 

 

 
cheques, receipts or other documents which the Interim Board may 

have to sign or execute in performing its functions and carrying out its 

duties under this Act ; 

 
(d) to appoint against, functionaries, or employees for exercising 

its powers and carrying out the duties assigned to it under this Act 

and to authorize them to file or defend suits or to do other acts, as may 

seem necessary during the interim period, on behalf of the Interim 

Board ;  

 
(e) to make bye-laws relating to the performance of its functions 

and duties under this Act ; and  

(f) to do all other acts as it may deem necessary for carrying out 

the purposes of this Act.  

Handing over 
administration 

and property.  

14. The Interim Board shall, within fifteen days of the 

establishment of the Sthayi Samiti, referred to in sub-section (2) of 

section 7, hand over the administration and management of the 

Sammelan and its properties and funds to the Sthayi Samiti, which 

shall thereafter exercise the powers and carry out the duties assigned 

to it under the Niyamawali and as from the date of the expiry of the 

said period of fifteen day or of handing over, as aforesaid, whichever is 

earlier, the Interim Board shall cease to exist and stand dissolved.  

Abatement of 
suits and 
proceedings 

15. Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time 

being inforce, all suits, whether pending in the court of first instance 

or in a court of appeal or revision, concerning any dispute with regard 

to the constitution and functioning of the Society; to which the Society 

is a party, shall on the date of the commencement of this Act, abate 

and all proceedings taken in connexion therewith, stand withdrawn.  

Powers of the 
State 
Government 

to remove 
difficulties 

16. the State Government may for the purpose of removing any 

difficulties, particularly in relation to the establishment of the Interim 

Board, the framing of the first Niyamawali or the establishment of the 

Sammelan or the first Sthayi Samiti by order direct that this Act shall, 

during such period as may be specified in the order, have effect subject 

to such adaptations, whether by way of modifications, additions or 

omissions as it may deem to be necessary or expedient.