(As adopted by the Society at the Annual General Body Meeting – 2nd January 1977, at Bhubaneshwar)

I. OBJECT OF THE SOCIETY

Article 1

1. The aim of the Indian Society of Developmental Biologists, a scientific association is to promote the cause of development biology in the following means:
2. Organisation of Congresses and symposia.
3. Publication of results of research in development biology.
4. Encouragement for the establishment and improvement of research laboratories in developmental biology.
5. Preparation and Publication of communications which may be of help in the co-ordination of research between different workers.
6. Encouragement for establishing all India collection of material, slides and scientific publications.
7. Any other legitimate mean to further the cause of developmental biology in India.
8. The aim(s) of the society will be altered, extended, or abridged in accordance with the rules 12 and 12A of the Societies Registration Act 1860.

Article 2

The Society will endeavor to cooperate with other National and International Bodies.

II. COMPOSITION

Article 3

The Society consists of active members, emeritus members. As per rules 15 of the Society Registration Rules Maharashtra 1971, a list of members shall be maintained in the form of schedule VI to the said rules in respect of such members as are members within the meaning of section 15 of the Societies Registration Act 1860.

Article 4

All persons active in research in the field of development biology may apply for active membership of the society.

Article 5

Active members may take part with full voting rights in the meetings and discussions of the General Assembly. They may attend all congresses and symposia organized by the society. They shall receive all publications issued by the society for a sum to be fixed by the board. Members pay an annual subscription the amount of which shall be fixed by the General Assembly.

Article 6

An active member of at least five years standing, reaching the age of 65 years shall automatically be promoted to emeritus member. Emeritus members have the same right as active members, except the right to be elected to the board. They are exempt from paying the subscription.

Article 7

Supporting members are persons or organizations contributing annual dues to the Society. The minimum amount of this contribution shall be fixed by the General Assembly. Supporting members, have the right to attend ore to be represented at the General Assembly, but are not entitled to vote or to be elected to the Board.

Article 8

Application for active membership must be accompanied by recommendations of two members and must be approved by the Board by simple majority. Admission of supporting members is decided directly by the Board. This may not apply to members enrolled up to the end of 1977.

III. ADMINISTRATION

Article 9

The activities of the Society shall be governed by the Board which is responsible to the General Assembly.

Article 10

The Board shall consist of a President, a Secretary-Treasurer and nine ordinary members. All members of the Board are elected by simple majority of the General Assembly from among the members by postal ballot. The President and the Secretary-Treasurer are elected as such, the other offices (Vice-President, Programme Secretary, Information Service Secretary and other offices considered necessary by the Board) are allotted among the members of the Board by mutual agreement.

The term of office of the members of the Board will be two years except the Secretary-Treasurer whose term of office will be four years; members may be re-elected for one more term only if the election is unanimous. All members of the Board should be life members of the Society.

IV. ASSEMBLIES AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

Article 11

The President and Secretary-Treasurer are the legal representatives of the Society.

Article 12

The Society shall meet as a rule in General Assemblies once every year. Unless time and place of the session have been set at the preceding session of the General Assembly, they shall be decided by the board and communicated to the members at least two months in advance.

Article 13

For special reasons the President of the Society, with the consent of the Board, may summon an extra-ordinary session of the General Assembly. The president shall also call such a session at the request of at least one-third of the active members.

Article 14

The agenda for a session shall be drawn up by the Board and circulated at least three weeks prior to the date of the session.

Article 15

At the General Assembly, questions of scientific or administrative nature shall be decided by a simple majority of votes of the members present and voting. In case of a tie, the vote of the President decides.

Article 16

Besides the above mentioned sessions, scientific meetings may be held at any other suitable time. The scientific programme will be a committee consisting of the Board and the Chairman of the local committee. The local committee will be responsible for the organization of the scientific meeting.

Spouses of members and specialists from related branches who may wish to attend the scientific meeting.

Spouses of members and specialists from related branches who may wish to attend the scientific meetings should become sessional members on payment of a fee, to be decided by the Board.

V. ACCOUNTS

Article 17

The income of the Society consists of annual subscriptions of members and supporting members, interest from capital, sale of publications, and subventions from governments and other organizations and persons.

Article 18

The accounts of the Society shall be kept and audited in accordance with section 12-D of the Societies Registration Act 1860.

Article 19

Members, whose subscription has been in arrears for two consecutive years shall, after due notice from the Secretary-Treasurer, be regarded as having resigned, the two annual payments being debts outstanding. In exceptional cases the Board may decide to depart from this rule. Members in arrears after March 31, shall loose their voting right.

Article 20

Funds derived from donations shall be used by the society in accordance with the expressed wishes of the donors. Funds not specially earmarked by the donors shall be added to the general fund of the Society. Funds derived from life memberships shall form reserve of the Society, and only income from such funds will be used for general purposes.

VI. REGULATIONS

Article 21

The General Assembly may draw up regulations relating to the conduct of its business, including delegation of powers to the members of the Board, on all matters not provided for in the Statues.

VII. MODIFICATION OF THE STATUES

Article 22

Amendment to the present Statues may be proposed by the Board or atleast fifteen of the members. For adoption by the General Assembly, an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present and with voting rights is required.

VIII. DESOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY

Article 23

In the event of the society being dissolved for any reason, the surplus funds remaining after satisfaction of the debits and liabilities shall not be distributed among the members, but shall be paid or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having aims similar to those of the Society and which shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members. Such institution or institutions shall be determined by the members of the Society at or before the time of dissolution and if effect cannot be given to this provision, the surplus funds shall be devoted to some charitable object or objects.

Article 24

The Society shall be dissolved as per the provisions laid down in Section 13 and 14, of the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Bylaws

I. ELECTIONS OF THE MEMBERS

Article 1

Members have the right to present new candidates for membership of the Society. New candidates have to be supported by two members. At regular intervals the candidature will be examined by the Board, after which admission to membership will be decided by simple majority of members of the Board. Candidates for membership of the Society must submit a curriculum vitae and a complete list of their scientific publications.

II. THE BOARD

Article 2

Two months before the General Assembly, the Secretary-Treasurer shall communicate to the active members and emeritus members the proposal of the Board, if any, for the next Board. Additional nominations of candidates shall be signed by at least three members and the candidate, and shall have reached the Secretary at least one month before the General Assembly. The election will be by postal ballot. The ad hoc board will be constituted by cooption by the Secretary-Treasurer and President.

Article 3

The President is charged with the conduct of the meetings. In his absence one of the Vice Presidents shall be designated as alternate. In emergencies, the President is entitled to take action, in consultation with one of the senior members of the Board, subject to the approval of the next Board meeting.

Article 4

The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct the general correspondence of the Society, keep the files, organize and convene the meetings, and record the minutes of the Board and business meetings. The Secretary-Treasurer shall control, under his personal responsibility, all financial resources of the Society. He shall collect the subscriptions and donations, and invest the funds in consultation with the Board.

In the General Assembly he shall deliver a financial accounting of the past period with supporting evidence.

Article 5

The Board may, on application from the Secretary-Treasurer, appoint one or more Secretary to assist him in the execution of his functions or to replace him in his absence.

III. SUBSCRIPTIONS

Article 6

Active members shall pay an annual subscription for each calendar year which shall be determined by the General Assembly. For life membership a sum of at least three hundred rupees or more, to be determined by the General Assembly from time to time, must be paid before March 31 of any year, in one or more instalments. Only life members may use the abbreviations ‘M. S. D. B’ after names.

Article 7

Supporting members shall pay an annual subscription of at least two hundred rupees, or a single sum of at least two thousand rupees.

IV. ASSEMBLIES

Article 8

It shall be part of the policy of the Society to hold its meetings in as many different centers as possible.

Article 9

The minutes of business meetings shall be sent to all members. They shall be submitted for approval at the next meeting.

Article 10

All votes concerning persons shall be cast in writing, Blank votes shall be considered void.