Preamble

The Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists – Andhra Pradesh (ISA-AP) is a professional, non-profit body of qualified anaesthesiologists committed to advancing safe anaesthesia, perioperative medicine, pain management, and critical care within the State of Andhra Pradesh. The society is registered under the A.P. Societies Registration Act, 2001. The following articles define the structure, authority, and operational principles of ISA-AP.

Article I – Preliminary Description

The society shall be called the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists, Andhra Pradesh, with its registered office as notified by the society.

1. It shall operate with the aims and objectives specified in the Memorandum of Association of the Society.
2. In the construction of these rules and regulations, unless repugnant to the context, the singular shall include the plural, masculine the feminine and vice versa, and “writing” shall include printing, lithograph or any other substitute for printing or writing. The word “Anaesthesia” is to be read as “Anaesthesiology” and “Anesthetist” as “Anaesthesiologist”.
3. All posts in the organisation are honorary.

Article II – Registered Office

The registered office of the society shall be located at the place or address of the Honorary Secretary until such time that a permanent headquarters is established. The office is presently located at:

Door No. 29-28-77, Dasari Vari Street, Surya Rao Pet, Vijayawada – 520002, Andhra Pradesh.

Article III – Membership

The Society has five classes of membership – Honorary, Ordinary, Life, Founder and Associate. Full eligibility criteria, rights and privileges are described on the Membership page.

Article IV – Enrollment of Membership

Applications for membership are made in the prescribed form, scrutinised by the Honorary Secretary and approved by the Executive Committee. Subscription fees and the annual cycle are described on the Membership page. The subscription year runs from 1st January to 31st December each year, and annual subscriptions must be paid before 31st March.

Article V – Cessation of Membership

Membership ceases by voluntary resignation, non-payment of dues for over three months, or by disciplinary action following due process. Full procedure is described on the Membership page.

Article VI – Management

The management of the Society shall be vested in The Executive Committee, consisting of:

• President
• Vice-President
• Honorary Secretary
• Honorary Treasurer
• Executive Members

Article VII – Elections

1. The President and the Vice-President shall be elected at the Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM). They shall hold office until the end of the succeeding AGBM at which they install their successors. The Past President will not be eligible for election to any office in the Society.
2. The Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and other Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the AGBM and shall hold office for 3 years, after which they are not eligible for re-election to the same post. All contesting candidates must have cleared any financial liability to the Society before contesting. Past Honorary Secretary and Past Honorary Treasurer may contest for the posts of Vice-President and President only.
3. The Honorary Secretary shall notify vacancies in the Executive Committee at least six months before the AGBM through the ISA-AP Newsletter.
4. Every nomination, together with the written consent of the candidate, duly proposed and seconded either by two ordinary members not having arrears or by life members, should reach the Honorary Secretary not later than the last post of 2nd September each year, or 30 days before the AGBM at which the election will be held.
5. Executive Member election will be as per the published protocol, with the Chief Election Officer of ISA-AP controlling the election.
6. A candidate must be a valid Ordinary Member without arrears or a Life Member, and must not be involved in any matter relating to Article V. Both proposer and seconder must satisfy the same conditions. A contestant must be a continuous member of the society for not less than 10 years for the post of President & Vice-President, and not less than 5 years for the rest. Candidates for President, Vice-President and Honorary Secretary should have served one term in the Executive Committee earlier. Past Secretary and Treasurer are eligible to contest for President and Vice-President. A candidate must have attended three of the preceding five Annual Conferences. The incumbent Organising Chairman and Organising Secretary of an Annual Conference are not permitted to contest until the conference accounts are presented to the Executive Committee and General Body.
7. Conference attendance refers to signing the AGBM register. The Honorary Secretary’s office will help candidates confirm attendance on request; the AGBM attendance register for the past five conferences is held with the Honorary Secretary.
8. A nomination once submitted may be withdrawn by the candidate through written request to the ISA-AP office.
9. Nomination papers from ordinary members (including proposer and seconder) who are in arrears on the last day of filing nominations will be rejected.
10. One member is allowed to contest for only one post in the Executive Committee. A member must submit written individual withdrawal of any additional nomination before notification of the final nomination list, or else all his nominations will be declared invalid.
11. The Honorary Secretary shall scrutinise all nominations received and present them before the Executive Committee, which shall nominate one Chief Election Officer and two Election Officers (none of whom may be contesting) from the council. The Chief Election Officer is responsible for the entire election procedure and reports to the ISA-AP President and Secretary. The decision of the Chief Election Officer is final on election matters. The preliminary list of contesting candidates is notified at the ISA-AP office at the conference venue before 5 PM on the day preceding the election.
12. Nominations may be withdrawn in writing at the ISA-AP office at any time before 5 PM of the preceding day of election. Reigning office bearers contesting for the same or any other post must submit their written resignation from the present post before notification of the final nomination list; otherwise their nominations become invalid. The final list of contesting candidates is notified at 5 PM on the preceding day of election and placed before the AGBM.
13. In the absence of any valid nominations, the General Body shall proceed to elect office bearers from amongst eligible members present at the AGBM. Ordinary members in arrears before the commencement of the AGBM are not eligible to vote, be nominated, or sit in the AGBM.
14. The Chief Election Officer may avail the services of additional scrutiny officers from the AGBM to conduct the election.
15. The election shall be by secret ballot with a single non-transferable vote per vacancy. Ordinary members not in arrears, and Life Members, are eligible to vote. The ISA Photo Identity Card is mandatory for voting. The Chief Election Officer shall hand a ballot paper showing names of all contestants to each eligible voter after obtaining the voter’s signature on the AGBM register.
16. After polling, the AGBM register shall be signed by all Election Officers, the Chief Election Officer and the ISA-AP President so that no future alteration is possible. Any correction, cutting or overwriting in the AGBM register during polling shall be countersigned by the Chief Election Officer. Ballot papers shall be collected and scrutinised by Scrutiny Officers nominated by the Chief Election Officer. Signing or initialing a ballot paper by the voter makes the paper invalid.
17. The Chief Election Officer ensures the safety of the sealed ballot box in consultation with the President & Secretary. Counting of votes commences on the last day of the conference and results are announced by the Honorary Secretary at the valedictory function, where the new office bearers are installed.
18. In the event of a vacancy occurring amongst the office bearers during the course of any year, the existing members of the Executive Committee shall elect a replacement, who will hold office for the remaining period of the predecessor. Vacancies so filled shall not exceed three per year.
19. Office bearers cease to hold office when their term of election is over, or if removed by a two-third majority resolution of members present at the General Body.
20. In the event of last-minute cancellation of a conference due to extraordinary circumstances, or failure to hold the AGBM due to lack of quorum, the reigning Executive Committee shall continue to hold charge until the succeeding conference or general body meeting.

Article VIII – Meetings

1. The Executive Committee shall meet at least thrice a year — preferably in Feb/March, August/September, and again just before the commencement of the Annual Conference. One-third of the total Executive Committee shall form the quorum.
2. All Executive Committee members attending the mid-term meeting shall be paid second-class AC train fare from their residence to the place of meeting; the President of ISA-AP shall be paid economy air-travel fare by the shortest route, once.
3. If holding an Executive Committee meeting is impracticable and the Honorary Secretary or President consider it necessary, the opinion of the Governing Council may be obtained by post or other mode of communication, and acted upon in accordance with the majority view.
4. The Honorary Secretary shall arrange the Annual General Body Meeting each year at the time of the Annual Conference. The quorum is 50 members or one-third of the membership, whichever is smaller. In the event of lack of quorum, an adjournment not exceeding 60 minutes shall be allowed for gathering the requisite quorum.
5. Any member desiring to move a resolution at the AGBM shall give notice in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least 60 days before the date fixed for the meeting.
6. The Honorary Secretary shall circulate the agenda along with proposed resolutions. Amendments to resolutions will be received until 48 hours before the AGBM.
7. The President, when present, shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee, the General Body, and the Annual Conference.
8. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall officiate; in the absence of both, the senior Past-President shall preside. If necessary, the meeting may elect its own Chairman, who shall have all powers of the President.
9. The President or Chairman shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie.
10. Voting may be by show of hands or by ballot, as the President thinks desirable, except for elections to the Executive Committee.
11. The ruling of the President or Chairman shall be final, provided it is within the constitution, rules and regulations of the Society.
12. The President may, whenever he/she thinks necessary, and shall on a written requisition with specific agenda signed by at least fifty Ordinary or Life Members of the Society, convene a “Special General Body Meeting” at a place of his/her choice. Such a Special General Body Meeting shall be held within 60 days from the date of receipt of such requisition and only to discuss the specific agenda for which it is called.

Article IX – Newsletter AP of the Society

The Society shall publish an official Newsletter of AP. The accounts shall be operated by the Honorary Secretary and duly audited; they shall be submitted to the Executive Committee and General Body for adoption. Adequate funds shall be made available to meet the publication of the Newsletter with the consent of the Executive Committee and approval of the AGBM. A loan may be given from time to time by the Society for the publication of the Newsletter, after prior approval of the General Body, which shall direct how the same is to be utilised.

Article X – President & Vice-President

President

The President, when present, shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee, General Body, Annual Conference, and any other committee meeting of which he may be a member. He shall attempt, in all possible ways, to contribute to the welfare of the people through the medical specialty of Anaesthesiology, furthering the aims of the Society to the full extent and performing such other services of leadership as are customary. He shall regulate the proceedings of meetings and conferences, interpret the rules and bye-laws, decide doubtful points, and put resolutions and motions to vote. The ruling of the President shall be final, provided it is within the Constitution and Regulations of the Society.

Vice-President

In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall officiate for him. He shall assist the President in the performance of his duties.

Article XI – Honorary Secretary

Subject to the control and regulations of the General Body, the Honorary Secretary shall be responsible for carrying out the directions and decisions of the Executive Committee and the General Body. In particular, the Secretary shall:

1. Convene meetings of the Executive Committee and General Body whenever necessary, or when called upon to do so.
2. Have administrative control over all the affairs of the Society.
3. Have charge of the office and all correspondence in relation to the Society.
4. Keep minutes of all meetings of the Association, Executive Committee and committees thereof.
5. Prepare the Annual Report of the Society.
6. Be in charge of the furniture, books and all documents and other assets of the Association.
7. Collect all dues of the Society, pay them into the banking account, and inform the Treasurer of the amounts so paid.
8. Make disbursements and maintain vouchers — provided that any extraordinary expenditure exceeding ₹1,000/- shall require sanction of the Executive Committee.
9. Perform all such other duties as are incidental to his office. All notices, communications, letters, memoranda and other papers shall be signed or authenticated by the Honorary Secretary, and when so signed shall be conclusive. The President may allocate any or all of his powers and duties under this or any other clause to the Honorary Secretary.

Article XII – Honorary Treasurer

The Honorary Treasurer shall be from the same place as the Honorary Secretary. In extraordinary circumstances, the General Body or Governing Council may direct the Honorary Secretary to work as Secretary-cum-Treasurer. The Treasurer shall maintain true accounts of the funds and other assets connected with, or in any way controlled by, the Society.

1. The property — movable or immovable — belonging to the Society shall vest in the Executive Committee.
2. No sale, mortgage, lease or other transfer of immovable property belonging to the Society shall be valid unless the document of transfer is executed by at least the President or Vice-President and the Honorary Secretary, after approval by the Executive Committee and the AGBM.
3. All moneys of the Society shall be deposited and/or invested in an approved bank or banks, in government and other negotiable securities, or in any other mode permitted under the Act. Accounts and other investments in the name of the Society shall be operated jointly by the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer.
4. Accounts of the Society shall be audited every year by one or more registered Chartered Accountants appointed by the General Body at the AGBM. Audited accounts shall be placed before the General Body for adoption. The auditor or auditors shall be paid such remuneration or honorarium as the General Body fixes at the AGBM at which they are appointed.

Article XIII – Conference

1. The General Body at its Annual Meeting shall decide the venue of the Annual Conference for the next two years, taking into consideration the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
2. Conference invitations or bids must come from approved city branches of ISA-AP, and the venue must be within Andhra Pradesh. The Organising Chairman, Organising Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by the conference-organising branch, and shall be responsible to the Executive Committee of ISA-AP.
3. The Organising Secretary will attend the meeting of the Governing Council preceding the conference on special invitation.
4. If for some unavoidable reason the question of selecting the venue and Organising Secretary cannot be decided by the local general body, the same shall be decided by the Executive Committee.
5. The scientific programme of the conference shall be worked out by the Conference Scientific Committee Chairman.
6. The Executive Committee shall frame guidelines for arranging the conference and the protocol to be followed, and shall communicate this to the Organising Committee for compliance.
7. The Organising Committee shall contribute 10% of the collected money or ₹50,000/-, whichever is higher, to ISA-AP. All anaesthesiology conferences conducted by members of the Society must be informed to the Executive Committee of ISA-AP for its approval, and 10% of the collected money or ₹50,000/-, whichever is higher, must be contributed to ISA-AP.
8. The Organising Chairman and Organising Secretary shall sign an agreement regarding the satisfactory conduct of the conference as per protocol.
9. Organisers shall submit the audited report of conference accounts within one calendar year, failing which their recognition shall be withdrawn temporarily on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
10. All National Past Presidents and their spouses shall receive Complimentary Registration at the Annual Conference.

Article XIV – Change of Rules

1. The Executive Committee shall have the power to recommend to the General Body any change in the rules of the Society, provided the proposed changes are circulated amongst the members at least 15 days before the General Body meeting.
2. Any member desirous of proposing a change in the rules shall give at least one month’s notice in writing to the Honorary Secretary, signed by a proposer and seconded / supported by five other valid members of the Society.
3. No amendment, variation, repeal or addition to the existing rules shall be made without the sanction of at least a 3/4th majority of the members present and voting at a General Body meeting. Amendments shall be made only at the Annual General Body Meeting.

Article XV – Branch of the Society

1. The Executive Committee may allow the formation of a city branch at any place in Andhra Pradesh on a written application made to ISA-AP by not less than twenty life members residing in that city, whose names appear on the register of the Society at the time of application, along with a recognition fee of ₹2,000/- payable to ISA-AP.
2. Branches so formed shall have the same aims and objectives as the Society but shall have the right to elect their own Executive Committee and fix their own local subscription in addition to the Annual Subscription to the parent body.
3. The Honorary Secretary of such branches shall be responsible for the collection of the subscription of the members.
4. 15% of the Annual Subscription of members may be retained by the city branch. The Secretary of such branches shall submit quarterly reports periodically and an Annual Report with the balance sheet of accounts to ISA-AP every year on or before 1st September.
5. The General Body shall reserve the right to withdraw recognition of any branch at any time on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

Article XVI – Appointments

1. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint persons or committees from amongst the members of the Society, whomsoever it deems suitable, for any specific purpose for the upliftment of society activity.
2. Such appointments shall be time-bound; their purpose and financial implications shall be brought to the notice of the AGBM for approval.
3. In all situations, the Honorary Secretary shall maintain liaison between the Executive Committee and Appointees.
4. The Honorary Secretary shall have the power to disburse money to the above appointees for their functioning, including TA for their travel.
5. Such appointments shall be reviewed every year by the Executive Committee and the AGBM.

Article XVII – Use of ISA-AP Logo and Protocol – Jurisdiction

The ISA-AP Head Office and city branches are authorised to use the ISA-AP logo in their official communications. If a body consisting of ISA-AP members wishes to use the ISA-AP logo for a particular purpose, it must seek permission from the Honorary Secretary in advance, which shall be duly intimated to the Executive Committee. Anybody using the ISA-AP logo or name without prior permission shall be liable to prosecution. On all matters, a strict protocol based on hierarchy and respect amongst members, office bearers and offices is maintained in ISA-AP.