Lost Society Share Certificate? Complete Guide to Duplicate Issuance in Mumbai Housing Societies
The society share certificate being lost can stop property transfer, withhold No Objection Certificate (NOC) issuance, and hold up membership transfer or share transfer requests in a co‑operative housing society in Mumbai. The housing societies in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra are now required to follow a prescribed share certificate loss procedure governed by the Maharashtra Co‑operative Societies Act, 1960. This duplicate share certificate process normally takes approximately 3–4 weeks.
Table of Contents
What Does a Society Share Certificate Mean?
One important legal document issued by a co‑operative housing society is a society share certificate, which is a document that shows you are the registered owner of a definite number of shares in the society and, by way of those shares, the identified member of a particular flat or unit. It captures your name, flat number, number of shares, unique share numbers, and the entire details of the society. This document is considered primary evidence of the right to membership, ownership interest in the housing society in Maharashtra, and your right to sell, gift, transfer or mortgage the flat during any property transfer or society transfer process.
Step-by-Step Process to Get a Duplicate Share Certificate
These are the steps that you need to follow to the letter, to ensure that you receive your duplicate in 15-30 days.
- File FIR/Police Complaint: Go to your local police station (e.g., Bandra or Andheri) and file the loss. Obtain a copy of a FIR or NC (Non-Cognizable) complaint. FIR option online available through Maharashtra Police portal (maharashtra.gov.in): for lost documents, enter details and get the acknowledgement.
- Inform the Society: Submit a written application to the Society Secretary with FIR copy, explaining the loss (lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced).
- Submit Indemnity Bond: File a notarized indemnity Bond on ₹200-500 stamp paper, which is a guarantee that the society will not claim against the personal property of a person in the future.
- Public Notice Publication: Society also advertises in two English and one Marathi newspaper (Times of India/Free Press Journal/Maharashtra Times/Loksatta). You pay costs (₹2,000-5,000 total).
- Wait & Issuance: 15 days to object. Otherwise, society issues reproduced at subsequent Managing Committee meetings.
Timeline Breakdown
- Day 1-2: FIR filing and application submission
- Day 3-7: Bond notarization and society approval
- Day 8-10: Newspaper advertisement publication
- Day 11-25: Objection period (15 days)
- Day 26-30: Duplicate certificate ready for issuance
Document Checklist
- FIR/NC complaint copy
- Written application to society
- Notarized indemnity bond
- ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN)
- Society membership proof
- Payment receipts for ads/fees
- Affidavit (if required by society)
Cost Breakdown (Mumbai Averages, 2026)
| Item | Cost Range (₹) |
|---|---|
| Indemnity bond stamp paper | 200 - 500 |
| Notary fees | 500 - 1,000 |
| Newspaper ads (8x4 cm, 2 papers) | 3,000 - 6,000 |
| Society processing charges | 500 - 2,000 |
| Total Estimated Cost | 4,700 - 10,000 |
Note: All costs are borne by the member
Newspaper Recommendations for Mumbai
| Type | Newspaper | Approx. Cost (8x4 cm) |
|---|---|---|
| English | Times of India | ₹2,500 |
| English | Free Press Journal | ₹1,800 |
| Marathi | Maharashtra Times | ₹2,200 |
| Marathi | Loksatta | ₹1,900 |
Sample Public Notice Format
Downloadable Templates
🗂️ Available Templates
- Society Share Certificate Lost Notice – Basic Format (PDF)
- Society Share Certificate Lost Notice – Letterhead Format (PDF)
- Sample Affidavit – Duplicate Certificate (PDF)
- Public Notice Template – Joint Ownership
- Public Notice Template – Inherited Property
Five Ready-to-Use Notice Formats
1. Basic Format (Simple Cases)
2. Society Letterhead Format (Most Recommended for Mumbai)
3. Detailed Format with FIR (High-Value Flats)
4. Joint Ownership Format
5. Inherited/Transferred Format
Sample Indemnity Bond (Notarized Affidavit)
Housing Society Share Certificate Rules (Mumbai-Specific)
- Maharashtra Co-op Societies Act, Bye-Law 66: Society must issue duplicates after notice; member bears costs.
- Bilingual ads mandatory: English + Marathi newspapers required.
- Bye-Law 19: No duplicate without 15-day notice period.
- For sales/transfers: Original or duplicate + indemnity needed for NOC.
- Skipping FIR—societies cannot do without it
- Using only one newspaper—need at least two
- Short notice period—always maintain 15 days
- Unsigned bond—notarization is essential
- Delaying application—start ASAP for property deals
You can file an FIR or NC report online at the Mumbai Police Online FIR Portal:
🔗 mahapolice.gov.in
Final Checklist
- File FIR or NC complaint
- Inform society in writing
- Submit indemnity bond
- Publish public notice in 2 newspapers
- Wait 15 days for objection period
- Receive duplicate certificate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, through mahapolice.gov.in—choose lost documents, enter details and get the acknowledgement.
Same process; mention "stolen" in FIR for priority handling.
All owners must sign the bond/notice jointly.
Same process applies; attach photos of the damaged certificate.
₹5,000-10,000 in total, including all fees and newspaper charges.
Same timeline, but you can authorize agents with Power of Attorney (POA).
To obtain a duplicate society share certificate in Mumbai, you must first file an FIR/NC for loss of share certificate, submit a written application and indemnity bond for duplicate share certificate to your co‑operative housing society, publish a share certificate loss public notice in 2 newspapers (1 English + 1 Marathi), wait for the 14–15 day objection period, and then the society can issue the duplicate share certificate.
The first step in the society share certificate loss procedure is to file an FIR or NC for lost documents at your local police station (or online on the Maharashtra Police portal for lost share certificate complaint online), and then inform your housing society in writing, enclosing a copy of the complaint.
Yes, you can file an online FIR/NC for lost share certificate using the Maharashtra Police online portal and obtain the acknowledgement, which you should attach to your duplicate society share certificate application submitted to the society.
The duplicate share certificate process usually takes around 3–4 weeks, including time to publish share certificate loss notice in newspaper, wait for the 14–15 day objection period, and then complete internal society formalities before issuing the duplicate housing society share certificate.
The duplicate share certificate charges typically include stamp paper and notarization for the indemnity bond, share certificate loss advertisement cost in two newspapers, and society processing fees, which together usually come to ₹4,700-10,000 depending on ad size and individual society rules.
In most Mumbai and Maharashtra housing societies, newspaper publication for share certificate loss is compulsory, with a public notice in at least two newspapers (one English and one local language) to invite objections before a duplicate society share certificate can be issued.
Where the flat is in joint names, all joint holders are normally required to sign the application for duplicate share certificate, the indemnity bond, and any declarations or society forms related to the share certificate loss procedure.
Commonly required documents for a duplicate housing society share certificate are: FIR/NC copy for lost share certificate, written application to society, notarized indemnity bond, ID proof, address proof, and any other ownership documents (old agreement, maintenance bills, society letter) as per that society's policy.
Practically, most societies, buyers and banks insist that the duplicate share certificate process be completed first, because the society share certificate is a key proof of membership and is required for flat transfer, NOC, home loan and other property transfer formalities.
Your FIR/NC for lost share certificate, the public notice in newspaper, and the indemnity bond given to the society together help protect you and the society; any person attempting to misuse the old certificate will face these records, and any later claim will have to overcome the fact that a duplicate society share certificate was issued after completing the prescribed loss procedure.
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