Plain-language meanings of legal and official terms that come up in Mumbai and Maharashtra: trusts, property, family matters, police and the gazette. Each entry links to a fuller guide.
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- 7/12 extract (Satbara, सातबारा)
- The record of rights for agricultural land in Maharashtra, showing the owner, area and cultivation. Urban property is shown in the property card instead.
- Affidavit
- A written statement of facts, signed and sworn before a Notary or Executive Magistrate. Making a false statement in an affidavit is an offence. Read more
- Anticipatory bail
- An order protecting a person from arrest before it happens, under Section 482 of the BNSS (formerly Section 438 CrPC). Read more
- Apostille
- A certificate from the Ministry of External Affairs that makes an Indian document acceptable in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Read more
- BNS, BNSS and BSA
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act from 1 July 2024. Read more
- Change report
- The report a public trust files under Section 22 of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act when any entry in the Public Trust Register changes, ordinarily within 90 days. Read more
- Charity Commissioner
- The authority that administers the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, with Joint, Deputy and Assistant Charity Commissioners in each region. The Mumbai offices are at Worli. Read more
- Commencement certificate (CC)
- Permission from the planning authority to start construction of a building. Buyers should check it before paying. Read more
- Condonation of delay
- Permission from a court or authority to accept something filed after the deadline, for sufficient cause. Read more
- CSR-1
- The form a trust, society or Section 8 company files with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to receive CSR funds. Read more
- DGPS
- The Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra, which publishes the Maharashtra Government Gazette, including name changes. Read more
- Gazette (Rajpatra, राजपत्र)
- The Government’s official publication. A change of name, date of birth or religion is published in Part II of the Maharashtra Government Gazette. Read more
- Leave and licence
- The usual form of renting a flat in Maharashtra: permission to occupy without creating a tenancy. It must be written and registered (Section 55, Maharashtra Rent Control Act). Read more
- Legal heir certificate
- An administrative certificate naming a deceased person’s heirs, used for smaller matters such as pension. It does not decide title. Read more
- MahaRERA
- The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority, where builders register projects and buyers can complain about delays and defects. Read more
- NGO Darpan
- NITI Aayog’s portal that gives non-profits a Unique ID, needed for government grants and some bank requirements. Read more
- Nominee
- A person named to receive or hold property on someone’s death. In a housing society, a nominee can be a provisional member, but is not automatically the owner. Read more
- Non-occupancy charges
- Extra charges a housing society levies when an owner lets out the flat; under the 2026 rules, 10% of the flat’s service charges. Read more
- Occupancy certificate (OC)
- Certificate from the planning authority that a building is complete and fit to occupy. Read more
- Perpetual and tenure trustee
- Since 1 September 2025 (Section 30A), a trustee appointed for life is a perpetual trustee and one appointed for a fixed period is a tenure trustee. Read more
- Probate
- A court’s certification that a will is genuine. Since the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025, it is no longer compulsory for wills in Mumbai. Read more
- PTR (Public Trust Register)
- The register of public trusts kept by each regional Charity Commissioner office. A trust’s registration number is often called its PTR number. Read more
- Ready Reckoner
- The Government’s annual market value rates for property. Stamp duty is charged on the higher of the deal value and the Ready Reckoner value. Read more
- Schedule I extract
- A certified copy of a trust’s entries in the Public Trust Register, often asked for by banks and buyers. Read more
- Schedule III and III-A
- Schedule III is the change report form; Schedule III-A is the memorandum filed with it when trust land or buildings are involved. Read more
- Section 36 sanction
- The Charity Commissioner’s prior permission needed to sell, gift, exchange or lease (beyond set periods) a public trust’s property. Read more
- Section 41C
- The provision under which the Charity Commissioner permits collection of money from the public for a religious or charitable purpose, such as a festival. Read more
- Stamp duty and registration fee
- Stamp duty is a tax on documents such as sale and gift deeds, paid before registration. The registration fee is paid to the Sub-Registrar; for most property documents, 1% up to Rs 30,000. Read more
- Stridhan
- Jewellery, gifts and property a woman receives before, at or after marriage. It remains her absolute property. Read more
- Sub-Registrar
- The officer under the Registration Act, 1908 who registers documents such as sale deeds, gift deeds and leave and licence agreements. Read more
- Succession certificate
- A court certificate (Section 372, Indian Succession Act) to collect a deceased person’s debts and securities, such as bank deposits. Read more
- Zero FIR
- An FIR registered at any police station regardless of where the offence happened, then transferred to the right station. Read more
These meanings are general explanations for readers, not legal definitions. They are not legal advice.