CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION

We, the Pediatric Surgeons of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry states of india do hereby unite to form an association titled “TAMILNADU AND PONDICHERRY STATE CHAPTER OF INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC SURGEONS (TPPS)” with a view to propound, to practice, to promote, to project, to protect and to propagate the specialty of paediatric surgery, to render high quality pediatric surgical care, to foster fraternity and familial feelings amongst the members, to pursue professional practice with ethics and empathy and to stay away from a milieu muddled with mundane materialism.

MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION RULES AND BYE-LAWS

I. NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION

The name of the Association shall be “TAMILNADU AND PONDICHERRY CHAPTER OF INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC SURGEONS (TPPS)”.

II. REGISTERED OFFICE

The registered office shall be situated at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, Chennai -600 116.

DATE OF FORMATION

The “Tamilnadu and Pondicherry Chapter of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons” (TPPS) was fanned on 6th January 2002 at the Seminar Hall of Coimbatore Medical College.

JURISDICTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Jurisdiction of the Association shall be within Chennai.

WORKING HOURS OF THE ASSOCIATION OFFICE

The working hours of the Association Office shall be between lOAM to 4 PM on all week days barring the holidays.

III. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
  • To provide a forum for exchange of scientific information and for interchange of technological know-how amongst the members.
  • To practice Pediatric Surgery ethically and with due observance of human values.
  • To teach and train General Surgeons in the Specialty of Pediatric Surgery.
  • To induce construction of Children’s Hospitals or creation of Pediatric Surgical units so as to disseminate and disburse Pediatric Surgical care.
  • To liaise and co•operate with Pediatricians and Pediatric Specialists in other disciplines like Anesthesia, Cardiology, etc. for comprehensive child care.
  • To cultivate companionship and comradeship and to promote cohesion in the Pediatric Surgical fraternity.
  • To hold scientific meetings. seminars, workshops. conference, etc.
  • To institute travelling fellowships, visiting professorships and to carryout other such activities for the spread of specialized knowledge.
  • To serve the society and the State in all possible ways.
  • To carry our clinical and experimental research for the furtherance of paediatric surgery.
  • To collect funds for the implementation of the above objectives.
  • To carry out any activity which is incidental to or consonant with the attainment of any of the objectives of the Association.
IV. MEMBERSHIP

For membership, a person shall fill up the prescribed Membership Application From in full details, duly proposed and seconded by two Ordinary Members who are not in arrears of subscription and submit it to the Honorary Secretary cum Treasurer, along with Entrance Fees and Membership Subscription. The Secretary will place all applications for membership before the Executive Committee. which will decide whether to admit the applicant as a Member and in which category. Members will be of the following categories:

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
  • Ordinary Member (Usually only life membership IS accepted under this category; Executive committee shall decide upon annual membership under this category as exceptional case)
  • Associate Member
  • Senior Member
  • Honorary Member

Amendment passed in GBM on 15.7.2007: Only life membership shall be entertained from qualified pediatric surgeons and from postdoctoral students of M.Ch or DNB courses in pediatric surgery.

V. CRITERIA OF MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
  • Ordinary Member
  • The applicant must have obtained a postgraduate qualification in Pediatric Surgery. (Amendment passed in GBM an 7.8.2005: M.Ch or DNB postgradllate students of Pediatric surgery will also be considered for full ordinary membership)
  • The applicant must be engaged in the exclusive practice of Pediatric Surgery.
  • The applicant must be a registered member of Indian Association Of Pediatric Surgeons.
  • Ordinary Members shall pay the Entry Fees at the time of registration and the subscription annually of an amount as determined by the General Body from time to time. (Amendment passed in GBM on 5.7.2007: This clause is deleted. Only life membership shall be entertained for qualified pediatric surgeons or pediatric surgical postdoctoral trainees)
  • Amendment passed in GBM on 12th July 2008: To be eligible for ordinary member of TPPS, the applicant must satisfy atleast any one the following criteria:
    • The applicant must be a native of Tamilnadu or Pondicherry.
    • The applicant must have practiced pediatric surgery within Tamilnadu or Pondicherry for not less Than 3 years.
    • The applicant must have been qualified M.Ch or DNB from anyone of the MCI recognized teaching centers within Tamilnadu Or Pondicherry.
  • Associate Member

An applicant who does not satisfy the criteria under Clause V(a) & (b) but who is interested in Pediatric surgery and is working in an allied discipline like Pathology. Microbiology etc. Or an applicant. who is doing Postgraduation In Pediatric Surgery, will be eligible for Associate Membership. If the applicant is a non-pediatric surgeon who is engaged in the practice of a Sub-specialty of Pediatric surgery like Pediatric Urolog) and Neurosurgery he’she will be eligible to become an Associate Member. The Persons desirous of joining the Association should possess basic qualifications of MBBS degree before being considered even for the Associate Membership of TPPS. ( Amendement passed in GBM on 7.8.2005 : The phrase, “Or an applicant, who is doing Post-graduation in Pediatric Surgery” stands deleted as postgraduates in pediatric surgery are eligible for full ordinary membership -vide supra)

  • Senior Member

Ordinary Member will become a Senior Member after he has completed 65 years of age or twenty years of membership standing with the lAPS as on January 1, each year. They would not only be exempted from paying the delegate fee in the annual conferences, but also would not be required to pay the annual fee of the association, if applicable.

  • Honorary Member

An internationally renowned Surgeon who has made an outstanding contribution to Pediatric Surgery and who has evinced keen and consistent interest in the development and growth of Pediatric Surgery in India can be considered for Honorary Membership. Not more than one Honorary Member will be selected in a year, provided that the total number of such members shall not exceed one tenth of the total Ordinary Members at a time.

  • Life Members

Ordinary Member of the association who contribute a sum of Rs. 2000/-to the funds of the association may be elected to life member of the association.

VI. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION
  • The amount of Entrance Fees, the Annual subscription as well as Life Membership fees will be determined by the General Body from time to time.
  • The Annual Subscription for the members joining the TPPS shall be Rs. 200/-(Rupees Two hundred only). The amount of fee would be revised by the General Body after 3 years.
  • The Senior Members and Honorary Members will not be paying any subscription.
VII. PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS.
  • Ordinary members who have paid their Entrance Fee in full and are not in default of payment of any dues to the TPPS shall be entitled to attend. vote and participate in the General Body Meetings of the TPPS and to stand for election to the Executive Committee and serve on it or any other Committee or Sub-committee of the TPPS and / or to propose or second candidates for election to membership of the TPPS.
  • Associate Members can attend and participate in discussions at the Annual General Body Meeting but will not vote. They cannot participate in any election.
  • Senior & Honorary Fee and Subscription. Members need not pay the Entrance Fee and Subscription.
VIII. CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
  • A person shall cease to privileges of Membership if:
    • He has been found to be of unsound mind by a Court of competent jurisdiction.
    • He has been convicted by any Court of an offence involving moral turpitude.
    • He has not paid his subscription for 3 years. Such a Member will be sent a registered letter to his last known place of residence or business by the Secretary requiring him forthwith to pay the same and intimating him that if his subscription is not paid immediately or within such time as the Executive Committee appoints, his name is liable to be struck off the Register of Members. The Executive Committee may reinstate a Member on satisfactory grounds being shown for the failure of due payment provided he/she pays an amount equivalent to one and a half times the arrears. If a member resigns his membership in writing. In such an event he will give notice in writing to the Secretary not less than 3 months before the end of the financial year.
  • A person disqualified under Clause VIII (a), (i) & (ii) will be. ineligible to become a Member again.
  • Any member who ceases to be a Member of the TPPS shall not be entitled to a refund of any part of the Subscription or Entrance Fee paid by him I her.
  • Any member who is removed from membership shall have the right to appeal to the next business meeting of the executive committee provided he/she makes a written application to the Secretary within 14 days of receiving the communication regarding expulsion.
IX. DISCIPLINARY ACTION
  • If an act of misdemeanor, misconduct or of behavior unbecoming of a Member is perpetrated by any Member and is brought to the notice of the TPPS by another Member in written complaint, the matter will be placed before the Executive Committee.
  • If a Member publishes or causes to be published any matter concerning the conduct and affairs of the TPPS in public media or indulges publicity in derogatory and denigrating diatribes against the TPPS, he/she will attract disciplinary action.
  • On the basis of the complaint, the Secretaly will issue to the concerned Member a Show Cause Notice for reply within 3 weeks. The complaint together with the reply shall then be circulated to the members of the Executive Committee.
  • In the event of the Executive Committee being satisfied about the innocence of the concerned Member, the matter will be dropped. However, if the Executive Committee feels that there is a case for further inquiry, the incumbent will be sent a notice requiring him to appear in person or through a lawyer before the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will make its recommendations which will be taken up on, the agenda at the Annual General Body Meeting (AGM).
  • If the concerned Member is found guilty, he will be liable to one of the three under mentioned punishments.
    • Reprimand in writing.
    • Suspension of membership for a specified period (with loss of all the privileges of membership)
    • Expulsion of the Member.
X. REGISTER OF THE MEMBERS

There shall be a Register of Members wherein all the relevant details about the members, like name, address, qualification, designation, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, etc., will be entered,. An updated Membership Directory will be published every alternate year and sent to the Members in the month of January. An updated list of Members as it exists on 31st March will be taken as a valid list for the purpose of elections in the corresponding year.

XI. ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

The entirety of the powers of the Members of the TPPS is vested in the General Body of its Members. All such powers shall be exercisable by resolution by simple majority (Unless otherwise provided herein) of the members of the TPPS present and voting at a General Body Meeting.

XII. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
  • A meeting of all the Members of TPPS shall be called at least once in a year. Normally, such a meeting shall be convened at the time and place of the Annual Conference of TPPS.
  • The Secretary shall intimate all members about the date, time and place of the meeting by post. The notice shall be accompanied by the agenda.
  • Notice of the meeting shall be sent at least 28 clear days before the date of the meeting.
  • The meeting is open to all the members of TPPS. Any member can express his/her opinion. But only ordinary members who have no dues to pay to the TPPS will be entitled to vote.
  • Quorum for the meeting shall be one-fifth of the voting members on the Membership Register. In the absence of a quorum, 15 minutes after the notified time, the meeting shall be adjourned for 15 minutes, to be reconvened at the same place.
  • If there is no quorum at an adjourned meeting, such a meeting will not transact any business other than what is notified in the agenda.
  • The Chairperson shall preside over all the General Body Meetings and the Chairperson shall be the Chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Chairperson-elect will preside and in the absence of both, the Ordinary Members of the General Body shall elect a Chairman from amongst themselves.
  • The Chairperson may instruct the Secretary to call an Extraordinary Meeting of the General Body if the circumstances so demand. The notice for such a meeting shall be 14 clear days. The quorum for Extraordinary Meeting shall be one-fifth of the voting members on the Membership Register. In the absence of a quorum, 15 minutes after the notified time, the meeting shall stand cancelled.
  • At an Extraordinary Meeting, only notified business shall be transacted.
  • One-fifth of the Voting Members on the Membership Register or more Members may request the Secretary to call a meeting of the General Body sending a request in writing and specifying the agenda. The Secretary shall call the meeting giving a notice of 45 clear days. In the event of non-compliance by the Secretary, requisitionists can, call and conduct the meeting themselves and take a decision, which shall be binding as if it has been passes at General Body Meeting. Only the specified business shall be transacted. For a requisitioned meeting to be valid, at least three-fourths of the requisitionsits must be present. In the absence of such attendance, the meeting shall stand cancelled.
  • A requisitioned meeting with the same agenda cannot be called for at least a year.
  • The issue shall be decided either by a consensus or by voting by a simple majority. The voting will usually be done by a show of hands but a secret ballot will be carried out if more than one founh of members present so demand.
  • An Issue once discussed and decided shall not be allowed to be raised for at least a year.
  • The declaration by the Chairman of the Meeting that a resolution has been carried unanimously or by the required majority and an entry to that effect in the Minutes Book of the proceedings of the TPPS shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the majority number or proportion of the votes recorded for or against the resolution.
  • The General Body is the supreme authority of the TPPS and its decisions are final and binding.
  • In general, the agenda at the Annual General Meeting will be as under:
    • Opening remarks by the Chairperson.
    • Condolences, if any,
    • Apologies, if any,
    • Confirmation of the Minutes of the previous Annual General Body Meeting and matters arising out of it
    • Matters arising out of the Minutes of the executive committee meetings
    • Presentation and adoption of Annual Report by the Secretary
    • Presentation and adoption of audited accounts
    • Presentation and adoption of the budget
    • Appointment ofAuditor for the next year
    • Fixing the remuneration of auditor
    • Deciding the venue of Scientific Meetings
    • Duly notified resolutions, if any
    • Constitutional amendments, if any
    • Any other matter with the permission of the Chairperson
    • Announcement of results of election
    • Thanks giving.
XIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: POWERS, DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
  • The Executive Committee shall be the prime administrative authority of the TPPS, functioning within the precincts of policies and parameters of performance enunciated by the General Body.
  • The General Body may delegate all or any of its powers to the Executive Committee or to any other Committee or Sub-committee. Such delegation shall be in addition to the powers delegated under these Rules.
  • Subject to the limitations contained in these Rules, the powers, duties and responsibilities concerning the day-to-day management of the affairs and activities of the Association (including financial powers in respect of revenue expenditure) are hereby delegated to the Executive Committee constituted under these Rules.
  • The Executive Committee shall not, without seeking the sanction of the General Body, be entitled to spend a sum exceeding Rs. 5000/-or such other amount as the General Body may determine by way of capital expenditure in one year.
  • Executive Committee shall have the power:
    • To appoint Committees and sub-committees for such purposes and for such periods as the Executive Committee determines. The Executive Committee shall define the powers, duties and scope of references to such Committees and /or Sub-committees and may delegate to them such of its powers and functions as the Executive Committee deems fit and proper. The Executive Committee will be entitled to appoint Ordinary Members of the Association to such Committees/Sub-committees. The Executive Committee shall have the power to review, alter, amend or rescind the decisions and/or actions taken by theses Committees or Sub-committees
    • Subject to such conditions as it thinks fit, to delegate any of its powers to the office bearers of the Associations.
    • To invite any Member for Executive Committee meeting.
    • To co-opt any Member in advisory capacity.
    • To appoint or to remove any salaried employees.
    • To purchase, lease, hire or otherwise acquire for the Association any property, rights or privileges which the Association is authorized to acquire for such price and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
    • To take and give receipts and other dischargers for money payable to the Association and for the claims and demands of the Association.
    • To execute all deeds, agreements, contracts, receipts and other documents that may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of the Association.
    • To invest and deal with any funds of the Association not immediately required for the purpose thereof in such manner as it thinks fit, and from time to time release or vary such investments.
    • To execute, sign, seal, delivery or cause to be executed signed and delivered all deeds, agreements, documents and assurances as may be necessary to carry out the objects of the Association.
    • To fix and/or alter the amount of Entrance Fees and rate of subscription for members of the Association in all categories of membership.
XIV. COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • Office Bearers
    • Chairperson
    • Chairperson-elect
    • Honorary Secretary-cum-Treasurer
  • Other MembersThe Executive Committee will have five elected Ordinary Member in addition to two ex-officio members namely the immediate-Past Chairperson and immediate-Past Secretary-cum-Treasurer.
  • All the office Bearers shall be honorary.
XV. CRITERIA OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTION
  • An ordinary member seeking election as an Office Bearer must have been a members of TPPS for atleast 2 years prior to the date of election and must have been a member of Executive Committee for one term(2 years)
  • The nominee as well as his prospers must not be in arrears of dues.
XVI. ELECTION*

The TPPS elections would be conducted each year by postal ballots.

  • The Chairperson-elect, Secretary-cum-Treasurer and 5 members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Ordinary members from amongst themselves by a secret postal ballot as per procedure stated below:
  • On 1st April, the Secretary will write to all Ordinary Members who are eligible to vote, notifying the vacancies and inviting the nominations. The nominee should be duly proposed and seconded by Ordinary Members who have no dues to pay. The nomination must reach the Secretary on or before the 30th of April. No member shall contest for more than one post at the same time.
  • The nominations that are received in time will be scrutinized by a Scrutiny Committee of 3 members constituted by the Executive Committee. The Scrutiny Committee will note down the number of nominations received, the number of valid nominations and the number of invalid ones, noting down the reasons for invalidation of each of these.
  • A list of validly nominated contestants will be drawn up and sent to every contestant, giving him/her option to withdraw the nomination on or before the 15th of May.
  • At the time of scrutiny of nominations, a contestant may remain present or may depute an agent with a letter to that effect.This provision applies also when ballot boxes are being sealed after the end of the period for receiving ballots and at the time of counting the votes.
  • Chairperson-elect will be the Returning Officer.
  • The ballot papers are posted during 1st week of June under Certificate of Posting to all Ordinary Members who do not owe any dues to the Association.
  • The ballots shall be returned to the registered office of the Association latest by the 30th of June.
  • The ballot papers received later than the and time shall be kept in a separate Ballot Box.
  • If the day on which the time limit prescribed happens to be a holiday, the time limit shall be extended to the next working day.* Dates mentioned under this section are fixed considering the annual conference will be on the 2nd Saturday of July every year.
  • Counting of the votes shall be carried out by the Returning Officer with the help of the Scrutiny Committee and the Secretary during the Ist week of July in the presence of the candidates or their appointed agents.
  • Soon after the counting is over, the Secretary shall intimate the results to the contestants and members of the Executive Committee.
  • The Secretary shall make a detailed note of.
    • Number of valid votes polled in the ballot box.
    • Number of invalid votes polled in the ballot box.
    • Number ofvotes polled after the due date.
  • The Secretary shall preserve all the ballot papers as well as the envelopes and identification slips in sealed envelopes for 3 months if there is no dispute, and in the event of a dispute, till the same is decided.
XVII. COMPLAINT CELL
  • Any complaint or dispute regarding election shall be referred to the “COMPLAINT CELL”, comprising of Executive committee and Senior most Pediatric Surgeons nominated by the Chairperson.
      In addition to the election disputes, the following complaints shall also be referred to the Complaint Cell.

    • Admission to membership
    • Assignment of the category of membership
    • Disputes among Members.
  • The cell will conduct an inquiry and submit its observations and recommendations to the Executive Committee for the final decision.
XVIII. TENURE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • Newly elected Executive Committee shall take charge at the Valedictory function of the Scientific Meeting of the TPPS held annually.
  • The Chairperson shall be inducted during the Valedictory function of the Scientific Meeting of the TPPS held annually.
  • Outgoing Executive Committee shall continue to function till the new Executive Committee takes charge.
  • The tenure of the Chairperson and Chairperson-elect shall be for a period of one year and they shall not be eligible to hold the same post once again.
  • The tenure of the Secretary shall be for two years. He, however, is eligible for re-election for one more term of 2 years.
  • The tenure of the other elected members is 2 years, but they are eligible for re-election after a lapse of 2 years.
XIX.FILLING UP OF CASUAL VACANCIES
  • ChairpersonIn the event of the position of the Chairperson falling vacant due to unforeseen circumstances, the Chairperson elect shall act as Chairperson for the residual term of the replaced chairperson.
  • Secretary-cum-TreasurerIn the event of the position of the Secretary-cum-Treasurer falling vacant due to unforeseen circumstances, the Executive Committee shall elect a Secretary from amongst the voting members. His tenure will be for the residual period of the term.
  • Elected MemberIn the event of a vacancy occurring in the 5 elected members, a member who has secured the highest number of votes among the unsuccessful candidates in the last election shall be elected for the residual period of the term. If there was no election for the Executive Committee Members, the vacancy shall be filled up by nomination by the remaining members the Executive Committee.
XX. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE BEARERS
  • Chairperson
    • He shall preside over all the meetings of the association as well as its committees, unless otherwise stated.
    • He shall guide and advise the Secretary as and when required.
    • He may correspond with any pertinent person and on any pertinent issue. However, he must endorse a copy to the office of the Association.
    • He shall consult the Executive Committee on all important matters and decisions.
    • Actual expenditure incurred by the Chairperson in the discharge of his duties, e.g. typing, secretarial help, other incidentals will be reimbursed by the Association. Major expenses like hotel bills, traveling charges shall not be borne by the Association.
  • Chairperson-elect
    • He shall help the chairperson in all possible ways.
    • He shall take over the functions of chairperson In his absence.
  • Secretary-cum-Treasurer
    • He shall carry out all the routine work of administration of the Association.
    • He shall convene the meeting of various committees and sub-committees, maintain their minutes and implement the decisions.
    • He shall maintain accurate accounts, get them audited and present them at AGM.
    • He shall prepare the budget for the coming year and present it to the Executive Committee.
    • He shall maintain up-to-date records about the members.
    • He shall prepare a detailed and informative “membership directory” to be supplied to all members every two year.
    • In all-important matters, he shall consult the Chairperson and /or Executive Committee. He shall endorse a copy of all important correspondences to the Chairperson /Executive Committee.
    • He can spend on his own a sum not exceeding Rs. 5,000/- at a time. (Amendment passed in GBM on 15.7.2006: Every year Rs 1500 can be spent by secretary towards petty expenses without the need of keeping any vouchers. This shall be accounted as Secretary’S allowance).
    • He may invite scientific papers for the academic meetings and prepare a detailed scientific program.
    • He shall prepare and submit the annual report of TPPS for presentation at the General Body Meeting.
    • Amendment passed in GBM on 12 July 2008: The Secretary shall edit the newsletter of TPPS. He / she may co-opt another member of his choice in the capacity of Joint editor to help him /her in editing tasks. The tenure of Joint editor shall end with the tenure of the Secretary who co-opted him.
XXI.INDEMNITY

Every Committee Member, Secretary and office staff shall be indemnified by the ASSOCIATION against all suits, proceedings, actions, claims, demands, expenses, liabilities, costs, losses and expenses which he / she may incur or become liable to bear or pay by reason of any act or thing done by him/ her in the discharge of his/her duties.

XXII. MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • Ordinary meeting of the Executive Committee may take place at any time and place as decided by the Secretary in consultation with the Chairperson, after giving 14 clear days notice.
  • An extraordinary meeting of Executive Committee may be convened at the instance of the Chairperson.
  • The executive comminee will ordinarily meet at least twice during a year – once before the Annual General Body Meeting and once after the Annual General Body Meeting-at the time and place of Scientific Meeting of TPPS held during the Annual Academic Meeting of TPPS.
  • The quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee is 5 Members. In the absence of the quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned for 20 minutes and if there is no quorum even after that, the adjourned meeting shall be held, but the committee shall not take up any matter that is not on the agenda.
  • An Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee may be called at the insistence of the Chairperson. The notice for such a meeting shall be 10 clear days and the quorum shall be 5 voting members. In the absence of the quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned for 20 minutes and if there is no quorum even after that, the meeting shall stand cancelled.
  • At an Extraordinary Meeting, no other what is on the agenda shall be transacted.
  • The Chairperson shall preside over all the meetings of the Executive Committee and he / she shall be the Chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Chairperson-elect shall preside, and in the absence of both of them, the senior most member of the Executive Committee shall be elected as the Chairman.
  • All decisions/ disputes shall be decided by consensus or by a simple majority vote. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall cast the deciding vote.
  • The Secretary shall present a summary of the proceedings of the Executive Committee meeting to the General Body at the Next Annual General Body Meeting.
XXIII. DECISION BY A CIRCULAR LETTER

A resolution in writing, if authorized by the Chairperson may be circulated by the Secretary to every Member of the Executive Committee, and if approved by a majority of the Members, shall be held as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Executive Committee.

XXIV. MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS
  • Within 45 days of the conclusion of the proceedings of every General Body Meeting, and within 30 days of the conclusion of the proceedings of every Executive Committee Meeting, the Association shall cause Minutes of such proceedings to be kept by making entries thereof in the Minutes Book kept for that purpose. The Minute Books shall be bound and their pages consecutively numbered. There will be separate Minute Books – one for each type of meeting (example: General Body Meeting and Executive Committee Meeting). No loose sheet shall be attached and no blank space shall be left.
  • The proceedings of each meeting written in such a book shall be dated and signed:
    • In the case of Minutes of proceedings of the Executive Committee Meetings, by the Chairperson of the meeting or Chairman of the next succeeding meeting, minutes of which are being signed.
    • In the case of Minutes of proceedings of General Meetings, by the Chairperson presiding the meeting.
XXV. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, any alteration, amendment or addition to these Rules shall be made only at a General Body Meeting by a special resolution duly proposed and seconded by the valid Ordinary Members and submitted to the Secretary at least two months before the date of the AGM. For passing a resolution, at least three-fourths of the members present, or 51 % of the total number of TPPS members should vote for a change.

XXVI. FINANCES
  • The financial year of the Association shall be from 1st April to 31st March.
  • The main source of revenue is Membership Subscription, which is determined by the General Body from time to time.
  • TPPS will have the right to ask for the Associations Cess money in return for allowing its name to be used for any scientific program.
  • A 10% of the registration fee collected by the local organizing Secretary from the registered delegated attending educational program like CME held under the banner of TPPS will be paid to the TPPS.
  • The other sources of income could be
    • Surplus funds of educational programs, e.g. CME, Workshops, refresher courses, etc.
    • Donations
    • Endowments
    • Traveling Fellowships
    • Other sources
    • Surplus funds may be invested judiciously in Government – approved securities yielding maximum returns.
  • The account opened in the name of TAMILNADU AND PONDICHERRY CHAPTER OF INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC SURGEONS (TPPS) shall be operated by the Secretary cum Treasurer, TPPS.
  • TPPS shall not be responsible for any loss or deficit that may be incurred by the organizers of the meetings conducted under the banner of TPPS.
  • The Association may sue or be sued in the name of the Secretary or the Chairperson.
  • (Amendment passed in GBM on 9.7.2006) All the bank accounts of TPPS shall be maintained only at State Bank of India with intercity operation facility.
XXVII. ASSETS OF THE TPPS
  • TPPS shall have powers to purchase, construct, acquire, lease, exchange, or otherwise deal with any property in the name of TPPS and also to improve, manage, sell, mortgage, dispose off or otherwise deal with all or part of the property.
  • The income and property of the TPPS shall not be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus to anybody.
  • The property of the TPPS shall be in possession and control of the Secretary-cum-Treasurer. He/she shall acquire movable or immovable property in consultation with Executive Committee for the achievement of the objectives of the TPPS.
  • Office bearers shall not be responsible for any loss, misfortune or damage to the property and funds which may happen during the execution of their official duties; except when the same has taken place by or through their own willful neglect or default.
XXVIII. SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS.
  • The TPPS will hold one annual conference in the month of July.
  • The income and property of the TPPS shall not be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus to anybody.
  • In general, the dates of the meetings may be 2nd Saturday and Sunday of the July every year. (Amendment passed in GOM on 12.7.2008: The conference along with preconference workshop shall be held on 3 consecutive days which are usually the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month of July every year. The local organizers are fully responsible for the preconference workshop for which a separate delegate registration fee may be collected by the local organizers.)
  • The venues of the Scientific Meetings will be decided by the General body during the previous year.
  • The Scientific layout of the conference will comprise of CME Program, specific scientific presentations, Guest lectures, orations, symposia, poster presentations, video presentations and other such features.
  • Amendment passed in GBM on 15.7.2007: For the purpose of presenting scientific papers the author need not be a member of TPPS. Scientific papers may be accepted from anyone if they are of interest to pediatric surgeons.
  • Amendment passed in GBM on 15.7.2007: Annual conference delegate fee of non-members should be one-and-a-half times higher than that of TPPS members (e.g. Members Rs 1200; Non-members Rs 1800). The excess money thus obtained shall be remitted to the association. The secretary TPPS, with the concurrence of the chairman, may waive such remittance if the local organizers are short of funds.
XXIX. DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Association shall not be dissolved unless its dissolution is voted and passed by three-fourths of the members present and voting at a General Body Meeting convened to discuss and decide about the dissolution. The notice for such meeting should be mailed under Certificate of Posting at least 42 clear days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meeting shall be three-fourths of the ordinary members on the Register on the day of issue of notice, provided that this rule shall not be amended or deleted except in the manner and by the special majority at a special quorum as provided herein