PTR stands for Public Trust Register. It is the register kept by the Charity Commissioner’s office for every region in Maharashtra, under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. When a trust is registered, it is entered in that register and given a registration number, commonly called the PTR number. You will see it quoted on the trust’s letters, bank papers, income tax filings and grant applications.
Key facts
- PTR
- Public Trust Register, kept by each regional Charity Commissioner office (Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950)
- Number format
- A letter code, serial number and region, for example E-12345 (Mumbai)
- Check online
- charity.maharashtra.gov.in → Know Your Trust → choose the PTR office
- For banks and courts
- Get a certified Schedule I extract from the PTR office; online details can be out of date
What a PTR number looks like
A registration number usually carries a letter code for the type of entry, a serial number and the region, for example a form such as “E-12345 (Mumbai)”. The letter codes are used for different categories of trust, and the region shows which office holds the file. Always quote the number exactly as it appears on the registration certificate.
What the register records
- The name of the trust and its registration number
- The names and addresses of the trustees
- The mode of succession to trusteeship
- The trust’s movable and immovable property
- Its objects, and its income and expenditure
The extract of these entries is called the Schedule I extract. Banks, buyers and funders rely on it, which is why every change must be reported. See the Public Trust Register explained.
How to check a trust online
- Open the Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra website (charity.maharashtra.gov.in) and go to Know Your Trust.
- Choose the PTR office (the region), and enter the trust’s registration number or name.
- Open the result to see the trust’s basic details, including its registration date, address and trustees as recorded online.
The online details are useful for a quick check, but for a transaction, a bank or a court, ask for a certified copy of the register entries from the PTR office, on payment of the prescribed charges. Information can also be sought under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
If the online details are wrong or out of date
The online record shows what has been accepted by the office. If a change of trustee or address has not been reported, the register will still show the old details. The remedy is a change report under Section 22, filed with the documents that prove the change. Use the deadline calculator to check the 90-day period.
PTR in property documents and title searches
People also come across “PTR” while buying a flat, plot or shop. In a title search, it usually refers to a property’s link to a public trust: the trust’s PTR number and its entry in the Public Trust Register show whether the property belongs to a trust. That matters because trust property cannot be sold, exchanged, gifted or leased beyond the permitted period without the Charity Commissioner’s prior sanction under Section 36. If a search report mentions a PTR number, ask for the trust’s register extract and any Section 36 order before you pay. See trust property sold without sanction.
In some documents “PTR” is used as shorthand for other things, such as a property tax receipt. Always check the context in which it appears.
Getting a PTR copy and where the “PTR office” is
- Online view: basic trust details can be searched on the Charity Commissioner’s portal, as explained above.
- Certified copy: for banks, courts, Darpan, 12A/80G or a property transaction, you usually need a certified extract of the Schedule I entry (the “PTR copy”) from the office of the Assistant or Deputy Charity Commissioner where the trust is registered. See getting an extract of the Public Trust Register.
- The PTR office in Mumbai: trusts in Greater Mumbai are registered with the Charity Commissioner’s offices at Worli. See which Charity Commissioner office handles Mumbai.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of PTR in a trust?
Public Trust Register, maintained under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950.
Where do I find my trust’s PTR number?
On the registration certificate issued by the Charity Commissioner’s office, and on earlier change report orders and audit filings.
Is a society also given a PTR number?
A charitable society in Maharashtra is registered both under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and as a public trust, so it has a public trust registration number as well as its society registration number.
See also: Getting your trust’s online login and Schedule I.
Consultations are by appointment. To fix a time, telephone +91 99301 50560 or send a message on WhatsApp.
This guide describes general procedure as understood in October 2026. It is not legal advice; forms, portals and fees change, so confirm current requirements with the office concerned before applying.
Related
See also: how to register a public trust step by step and what registration costs.