Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
Constitution
2017
All amendments approved after the last printed version of 1998 are included in this version, and the date of approval is mentioned in the side-line.
Other textual corrections suggested by the Constitution Review Committee (2017) are underlined.
Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
(Incorporated under the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka Act No. 6 of 1992
as amended by Act No. 45 of 2006)
Constitution
(Being the Rules of the Corporation referred to in section 6 of the Act)
and as of April 2015
Article/ Rule
PART I – NAME AND OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY
1. The name of the Society shall be “The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka” (RASSL).
2. The registered office of the Society shall be No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
3. The objects shall be:
(a) to institute and promote inquiries into the history, religions, languages, literature, arts, sciences and social conditions of the present and former peoples of Sri Lanka and connected cultures;
(b) to make comparative and evaluative studies of the historical and cultural backgrounds associated with the religions, beliefs, languages, literature, arts, music and various other creative expositions of Asian countries both in the present day and in the past and to examine in which manner they have influenced the culture of Sri Lanka;
(c) to establish libraries and provide other services and print, publish and sell books, journals, memoirs, monographs and periodicals to fulfill the objects of the Corporation;
(d) to establish and maintain schools and educational institutions, grant scholarships, promote and develop education;
(e) to establish friendly relations with organizations devoted to Asian cultures both in Sri Lanka and abroad;
(f) to arrange, organise, establish and promote exhibitions, lecture programmes, conferences, seminars, workshops, debates, educational tours and other activities for the achievement of the objects of the Corporation;
(g) to send delegates to seminars, on topics pertaining to the objects of the Corporation, conducted in Sri Lanka or in foreign countries, particularly Asian countries;
(h) to adopt measures to collaborate with local and foreign organisations having similar objects and to promote educational exchanges;
(i) to assist members and employees of the Corporation who are engaged in pursuits directed towards the accomplishment of the objects of the Corporation through scholarships or awards, in cash or in kind;
(j) to collect funds for the satisfactory conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for the management of such funds; and
(k) to do anything necessary or conducive or consequential to the attainment of the objects of the Corporation.
PART II – MEMBERSHIP
4. The Society shall consist of Honorary, Life, Ordinary Members (Resident or Non-Resident), Institutional Members (local or foreign), Associate Members and Student Members.
Associate Members
The Society may admit as Associate Members, those having an interest in the objects of the Society as spelled out in Section 14 (a) and in accordance with the conditions in all other clauses in Section 14 and to those of Section 15 and 16. Associate Members shall enjoy all privileges of membership except voting rights and of being eligible for elections as office bearers.
Student Members
The society may admit as Student Members, those having an interest in the objects of the Society as spelled out in the Section 14 (a) and in accordance with the conditions in all clauses (c) and (d) in Section 14 and to those Sections 15 and 16. Student Members shall enjoy all privileges of membership except voting rights and of being eligible for election as office bearers. The membership fees in Section 20 will apply to the Student Members.
Student Members will be eligible for full membership after they have published a research article in a peer reviewed journal or have presented two peer reviewed papers in an academic conference.
5. Persons who have in the opinion of the Council, rendered noteworthy and memorable service towards the attainment of the objects of the Society may be elected as Honorary Members.
6. Such persons, whose prior consent has been obtained may be elected as Honorary Members, at a meeting of the Society on the recommendation of the Council.
7. The Honorary Members so elected shall be informed of their election under the seal of the Society and signed by the President and Joint Secretaries.
8. There shall not be more than twelve Honorary Members of the Society at any one time.
9. Honorary Members shall be entitled without payment, to all the privileges enjoyed by other Members.
10. Persons desirous of becoming Members of the Society shall apply subject to provisions in Article/ Rules 14 – 17 below.
11. An Ordinary Member, whether Resident or Non Resident, would be eligible to be elected a Life Member on the payment of the Annual Subscriptions for a continuous period of twenty five (25) years.
12. (a) Resident Status:
(i) Citizens of Sri Lanka, residing in the Island, and
(ii) Foreign spouses of Sri Lankan citizens, residing in the Island on valid visas, shall have Resident Status. Such members, who have been resident out of the Island for over a year may, claim Non-resident status, and may upon their return to the Island apply for reversion to Resident status.
Ordinary Members who are not citizens of Sri Lanka will be considered Non-Resident members.
(b) Non-Resident Status
Ordinary Members who are not citizens of Sri Lanka, other than those in category 12 (a) (ii) above, will be considered Non-Resident members.
13. Any Society or Institution which pursues or has an interest in the objects of the Society (RASSL) may, on application, be considered for enrolment as an Institutional Member. Such Society or Institution shall be entitled to send one representative to the General Meetings of the Society (RASSL). Such Society or Institution shall, at their Annual General Meetings elect a representative who will be entitled to be present and vote at the General Meetings of the Society. The Society (RASSL) shall be informed of such elections in writing as and when they are held, appending an extract of the relevant minutes, certified by the President, of the applicant Society or Institution.
14. (a) Any person who is in agreement with the objects of the Society and desirous of becoming a member shall have his/ her application proposed and seconded by two members who are not in arrears of subscription.
27.3.2010. 156th AGM
(b) Criteria for Membership:
In order to qualify for membership, the applicant should posses;
i. A first degree or higher degree in the humanities, social sciences, pure and applied sciences, from a recognised University or equivalent qualifications.
ii. Any person without a first degree or equivalent professional qualifications but who has made a recognised research contribution in the areas set out in the objects of the Society will also be eligible.
(c) The applicant shall also append to his/her application a copy of his/her bio-data including any research in his/her fields of interest.
(d) The proposer and seconder shall ensure that the application form has been duly filled and the particulars given are true and correct.
27.3.2004. 157th AGM
15. (a) All applications so received shall be displayed on the Notice Board for not less than 10 days, during which period any objections to such applications could be lodged with the Joint Secretaries by the members of the Society, and at the expiration of such period, the Secretaries shall submit the applications to the Finance and Administration Committee for its consideration, with the recommendations pertaining to all such applications and any objections that had been received.
(b) The recommendations of the Finance and Administration Committee shall be tabled at the Council Meeting, immediately following its meeting, for its consideration and decision. The decision of the Council, thereon shall be final and conclusive.
(c) The date of enrolment of a member is the date their membership is approved by the Council.
27.3.2010 165th AGM
16. (a) The Joint Secretaries shall forthwith inform in writing every newly elected member of his/ her election, and every member so elected shall abide by the Rules of the Society, and the Code of Ethics.
(b) All monies paid by such applicants, whose applications have not been approved by the Council, shall be refunded in full.
(c) Code of Ethics: The Members of the RASSL shall be intellectually honest and members shall at all times;
a. Not falsify results and fairly represent results as they honestly perceive them.
b. Fairly record the intellectual material and practical contribution of others to their work.
c. Ensure joint authors of publications and reports share responsibility for their contents.
d. Retain all types of records as long as practical and where not commercially or personally sensitive, make them available for others to access.
e. Not falsify one’s qualifications, experience and competence.
f. Not allow or commit plagiarism.
25.3.2000 153rd AGM
(d) Code of Conduct: Members shall behave with integrity and professionalism and members shall at all times;
a. Adhere to the laws of intellectual property rights.
b. Conduct themselves in a manner that strives to enhance the objects and rules of the Society.
c. Shall not engage in criminal activity.
d. Demonstrate integrity and academic professionalism and observe fairness and equity in matters pertaining to research in keeping with the objects of the Society.
e. Strive not to compromise the welfare, health and safety of the community and environment.
Any members in violation of the above Code of Ethics and Conduct shall be removed from membership of the Society (RASSL) after due inquiry.
25.3.2000 153rd AGM
17. Any member may resign his/ her membership sending notice of his/ her resignation to the Joint Sectaries in writing. The resignation of a member shall not take effect until he/ she shall have returned all property belonging to the Society and discharged any liability due to the Society. If the notice of resignation of an Ordinary Member had not reached the Joint Secretaries before the first of January of any year, such resignation shall not take effect until the member has paid all subscriptions due, and any other liability, unless such payments due be waived by the Council for good reason.
PART III – SUBSCRIPTION
18. Every applicant for membership shall pay in advance an entrance fee of Rs. 250/-, together with Rs. 1,000/- as subscription in advance for the year of his/ her enrolment; and the Life Members shall pay in advance the full life membership fee of Rs. 3,000/- along with the entrance fee Rs.250/-. Ordinary Members on being elected shall pay an annual subscription of Rs. 1,000/- for every subsequent year or part thereof during which he/ she remains a member.
28.3.2009 164TH AGM
19. The annual subscription shall be paid on or before the last day of January each year. Members who fail to do so shall be informed in writing by the Treasurer of their omission. If a member’s arrears of subscription remain unpaid for two successive years, even after such reminders, unless the Council specifically decides otherwise for good reason. A member who has not paid his/ her subscription shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any right, receive any benefit or enjoy privileges of a member, during the period of two years grace extended to him to pay his/ her arrears.
28.03.2009 (164th AGM)
20. The entrance fees and subscriptions applicable to the different categories of Members shall be as follows:
Category Entrance Fee Life Subscription
Life (Resident) Rs. 250/- Rs. 3,000/-
Life (Non-Resident) $ 10/- * $ 200-*
Associate Rs. 250/- Rs. 3,000/-
** Entrance Fee Annual Subscription
Ordinary (Resident) Rs. 250/- Rs. 1000/-
Ordinary (Non-Resident) $ 10/-* $ 50/-*
Institutional (Sri Lankan) Rs. 250/- Rs. 5,000/-
Institutional (Foreign) $ 10/-* $ 50/-*
Student n/a Rs. 100/-
(* payable in US Dollars or its equivalent in Sri Lanka Rupees)
21. The rates shown above shall be subject to revision by the Society as and when deemed necessary. Such revision of which due notice has been given shall be taken up at an Annual or Special General Meeting of the Society.
28.03.2009 (164th AGM)
18.10.2012 (SGM)
PART IV – THE COUNCIL
22. The Council shall be the executive body of the Society, and the affairs of the Society shall be directed and managed by the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Incorporation No.6 of 1992 and of this Constitution.
23. It shall consists of
1. The Office Bearers (vide Article/Rule 25)
2. The immediate past president of the Society, provided that he/ she is not removed by a vote of no confidence by the membership of the Society or has not resigned the post of president and
3. Fourteen (14) other members elected by the Society.
24. The Head of the State of Sri Lanka shall be the Patron of the Society.
25. Office Bearers of the Society shall be
(a) President
(b) Two Vice-Presidents
(c) Two Joint Secretaries
(d) Treasurer
(e) Editor
(f) Librarian
(g) Assistant Secretary External Affairs
(h) Assistant Editor
26. (a) A member shall be eligible for election as President or Vice-President, only if he/ she has been a member of the Council for at least four successfully by way of lectures at meetings of the Society and contributed to the Society’s Journal.
(b) All other Office Bearers should have been members of the Society for at least for two years from the date of enrolment or one year as members of the Council. Nevertheless if in the opinion of the Council, as expressed through a written motion indicating the need and accepted at a meeting of the Council, any member of standing may be elected as an Office Bearer coming under this category.
(c) Out of the fourteen members to be elected as members of the Council under article 23 (3)
i) 10 (ten) shall be from among those who have been members of the Society for a period of not less than two years, and
ii) 4 (four) shall be from among those whose membership in the Society is less than two years.
iii) the periods of both i) and ii) categories shall be reckoned from the date of enrollment up to the closing of nominations for the particular year.
iv) may include a member elected under the amended clause 26 (b)
(d) All Members of the Council shall be elected once in two years at an Annual General Meeting.
27. (a) Out of the fourteen (14) members of the Council seven (7) shall retire at the end of two years i. e. and of one term of Office. As to who shall retire at the end of each term shall be decided on the criterion of least percentage attendance at Council meetings and if this is inadequate it shall be decided by the Council by secret ballot.
A Council Member retiring under this Article 27 (a), shall not be eligible for re-election until the next Election.
(b) All Office Bearers of the Society shall be elected to hold office for a period of two years from the date of election. They shall, however, remain in office until new Office Bearers are elected. A retiring Office Bearer shall be eligible for immediate re-election, at the ensuing (second term-end) election either to the same office or to any other office, for the next term of two years. Even after the end of the second term of his/ her office, i.e. even after four years they will be eligible to stand for election for the third term on the same provisions stated above. After the end of this third term of office (six years) they shall retire and not be eligible for re-election until the lapse of another term of office i.e. after completion of eight years from the first date of election.
(c) Any member of the Council including an Office Bearer who absents himself/ herself from three (03) consecutive meetings even with excuses sent in advance to the Joint Secretaries shall be deemed to have vacated his/ her office or Membership of the Council, unless the Council decides otherwise.
29.03.2003 (156th AGM)
18.10.2012 (SGM)
25.10.1999 (SGM)
27.03.2010 (165th AGM)
18.10.2012 (SGM)
25.10.1999 (SGM)
28.03.2015 (170th AGM)
31.03.2012 (167th AGM)
PART V – ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
28. (a) Nominations returnable within 10 days, to the posts of Office Bearers and membership of the Council shall be called for by the Joint Secretaries at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting. The nominations so received and considered valid by the Council shall be intimated to all the Members of the Society along with the Agenda of the Annual General Meeting, to enable the Annual General Meeting, to elect the necessary Office Bearers and Members of the Council.
(b) Each nomination shall be proposed and seconded by two Members who are eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting, i.e. who have paid their current year’s subscription at the time of signing the nomination papers.
29. (a) If the number of nominations received for any office is less than the number required, the House shall have power to propose other names from the Floor of the House. In the event of there being more nominations than required for the vacant position(s), voting shall be by secret ballot,
(b) In the event of nominees not being present at the meeting, their nominations shall be null and void.
30. Should any vacancies occur among the Office Bearers or the other members of the Council, such vacancies shall be filled by the Council and the Council’s new appointments shall be in force for the balance period of office of the retiring Office Bearer or member of the Council. Any such appointment shall be announced at the next meeting of the Society.
25.10.1999 (SGM)
PART VI – FUNCTIONS AND POWERS
OF THE COUNCIL
31. (a) The affairs of the society and the funds lying to the credit thereof shall be managed by the Council, subject to the control of the Society. The Council shall have the power to appoint Standing Committees and ad hoc Committees for any special purpose or to report on specific questions. All these Committees shall act in an advisory capacity to the Council and any decision taken by them is subject to ratification by the Council.
(b) The Council may also appoint paid Officers to execute special duties pertaining to the work of the Society.
(c) The Council shall have the power to make and amend or repeal working rules for its own, as well as for the Society’s guidance with particular attention to the functioning of the Society’s Library, provided that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution and the Act. All new working rules, and those amended or repealed by the Council shall be tabled at the next General Meeting of the Society.
(d) The Council shall have the power to interpret the Articles of the Constitution and working rules made by the Council, and the decision of the Council shall be final and conclusive and shall be tabled at the next General Meeting.
(e) The Council shall have power to deal with any maters not covered by this Constitution, or the Act. Any action taken under this Article shall be reported to the next meeting of the Society, which shall have the power to ratify, reject or suggest any alternate action but without prejudice to any action that has already been taken by the Council.
(f) The Council shall have power to appoint three Standing Committees under Part VI, 31 (a).
(g) It shall have the power to scrutinize the nominations received and submit only the valid nominations to the Annual General Meeting.
(h) The Council of the Royal Asiatic Society shall not make any Rules, Regulations and take decisions that are contrary to the provisions in the Constitution of the Society.
(i) The Library Committee shall make recommendations to the Council as to the books, serials and other research materials which should be purchased to the Library.
29.03.2003 (156th AGM)
27.03.2004 (157th AGM)
PART VII – OFFICE BEARERS : DUTIES
32. Joint Secretaries
Shall be responsible, jointly and severally for:
(a) convening all meetings;
(b) keeping records of the proceedings;
(c) giving effect to the decisions taken at the meetings;
(d) drafting the Annual Report of the Council;
(e) furnishing abstracts, if necessary, of the proceedings of the meetings to the mass media with the approval of the President;
(f) informing the Treasurer of the election of new members;
(g) conducting the correspondence of the Society;
(h) ensuring the safety of the property, books, documents, records and furniture etc. belonging to the Society; and attending to any legal matters concerning the Society.
(i) attending to any matters entrusted to them by the Council. They shall work in consultation with the Finance and Administration Committee.
**
33. Treasurer
Shall be responsible for:
(a) keeping account of all monies received and of all money paid by him on behalf of the Society;
(b) collecting fees and subscriptions and notifying members of any unpaid dues not later than the last day of February each year;
(c) reporting each year to the Council, at its very first meeting held after the end of January, the names of members who are in arrears of subscriptions and furnish the Publications Committee with the names of any members to whom the sending of any of the publications of the Society is to be stopped or suspended;
(d) submitting a monthly Statement of income and expenditure to the Council and quarterly Statements of investments of the Society;
(e) submitting annually to the Council a Statement of Accounts duly audited by its Auditors appointed by the Society and have the Statement and his/ her Report duly circulated prior to the Annual General Meeting;
(f) preparing for publication the list of members of the Society;
(g) serving on the Publications Committee;
(h) operate the Bank Accounts of the Society jointly with the President or one of the Vice Presidents or Joint Secretaries;
(i) shall work in consultation with the Finance and Administration Committee.
**
34. Librarian
Shall be responsible for:
(a) advising the Council regarding the maintenance, expansion and improvement of the Library as and when desirable and necessary;
(b) overseeing the work connected with the Librarian and Assistant Librarians (if any) and advising them regarding the maintenance and necessary improvements to the Library;
(c) shall work in consultation with the Library Committee.
**
35. Editor
(a) shall function under the general direction of the President, and the Publication Committee;
(b) be responsible for the issue of the Journals of the Society and such other publications as may be undertaken on the approval of the Council, on the recommendations of the Publications Committee.
(c) qualifications for Editor – The Editor should have a first degree from a recognized university, preferably a research level Masters Degree or equivalent or higher.
**
36. Meetings – Chairman
(a) The Society shall meet annually
(b) At all meetings of the Society the Chair shall be taken by the President of the Society, and in his/ her absence, by one of the Vice Presidents present.
(c) If the Head of the State of Sri Lanka be present at any meeting, His/ Her Excellency shall take the Chair.
(d) The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held in March each year.
**
37. Council
(a) At least eight Council meetings shall be held during the year. However, additional meetings of the Council shall also be held if the Council so decides. The President shall have the power to summon any General, Council or any other Committee meeting established under this Constitution.
38. The minutes of a meeting, whether of the Society or of the Council, shall be presented to the very next meeting of the Society or of the Council as the case may be, irrespective of whether the meeting concerned is an Ordinary or Special meeting.
39. Thirty (30) members shall form a quorum for a General Meeting, a Special General Meeting or an Annual General Meeting of the Society 40. (a) Special General Meetings of the Society shall be convened by the Council at its discretion.
(b) Special General Meetings shall also be convened upon the written requisition of not less than twenty (20) Members of the Society. Members requisitioning such meetings shall specify in their request, the matter or matters they wish to discuss at the Meeting. The quorum for Meetings requisitioned shall be forty (40) Members.
(c) The Office Bearers shall meet in conference, prior to every Council meeting, to discuss the Agenda and any other relevant matters.
41. The Course of Business at General Meetings
(a) The minutes of the preceding meeting or meetings shall be read and confirmed;
(b) Donations made to the Society and books acquired by the Society shall be announced;
(c) Any specific and particular business which the Council may have appointed for the consideration of the meeting shall be discussed;
(d) Any question relating to the rules and the management of financial affairs of the Society, of which fourteen (14) days notice in writing signed by no fewer than fifteen (15) members has been given to the Joint Secretaries, shall be discussed;
(e) Any vacancies filled by the Council shall be tabled;
(f) At least ten (10) days notice shall be given to members of General and Special General Meetings, together with an intimation of the business which is to be taken up for consideration at the meeting concerned.
Requisition 22
42. Monthly lectures shall be organized by the Joint Secretaries. Such lectures shall be open to the public and members of the public may be permitted by the Chairman/ Chairperson to raise questions or to make observations on the subject of the lectures.
43. The Joint Secretaries, acting in consultation with the President shall have the power to invite mass media representative to any meeting of the Society and to brief them on the activities of the Society, if deemed necessary.
**
PART VIII – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
44. The Annual General Meeting of the Society, of which not less than fourteen (14) days notice shall be given, shall be held not later than the 31st (thirty-first day) of March of each year, on such date as the Council may appoint. At such Meeting, the Society shall receive and consider the Annual Report of the Council and Accounts of the Treasurer and the Report of the Auditors thereon; consider and decide on any Resolutions that have been received within the stipulated time and transact any other business, fixed by the Council, of which notice has been duly given.
**
PART IX – FINANCIAL YEAR
45. The Financial Year of the Society shall be the calendar year i.e. 1st January to 31st December of each year.
PART X – STANDING COMMITTEES
46. (a) There shall be three (3) Standing Committees, namely:
i. Finance and Administration Committee.
ii. Publications Committee,
iii. Library Committee.
(b) Not more than four (4) members of the Council other than office bearers shall be appointed to serve on each Standing Committee, other than the Finance & Administration Committee which shall have six (6) members. A meeting of each Committee shall be held at least once a month, on the days appointed. Three members shall form a quorum.
(c) The Standing Committees [as at 46 (a)] shall be chaired respectively by the President and the Vice Presidents of the Society. One of the Joint Secretaries, the Editor, and the Librarian will be the Convenor and Secretaries of the relevant Standing Committees.
(d) All Committees appointed by the Council shall function in an advisory capacity to the Council.
(e) Any member of a Standing Committee including an Office Bearer who absents himself from three (3) consecutive meetings even with excuses sent in advance to the Joint Secretaries shall be deemed to have vacated his/ her office or Membership of the Standing Committee, unless the Council decides otherwise.
25.10.1999
(SGM)
31.03.2012 (167th AGM)
**
PART XI – THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRAITON COMMITTEE
47. Shall be chaired by the President. One of the Joint Secretaries shall act as Secretary. The Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member.
The Committee shall deal with all matters pertaining to Finance, Administration and enrolment of members.
Any complaints pertaining to the conduct of members shall be referred to the Finance and Administration Committee for report to the Council. The Council shall have the power to take suitable action it deems fit. The decision of the Council shall be final.
**
PART XII – PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
48. The Society shall publish, at least once a year, a journal containing papers, illustrations, notes, queries or letters on subjects submitted to or discussed before the Society, together with an abstract of the proceedings of the meetings of the Council and of the Society.
The Journal will also publish the Report and Accounts presented to the Annual General Meeting and, finances permitting, the Constitution and Rules of the Society and/ or the list of members as at 1st of March whenever decided by the Council.
49. (a) The Committee shall have the power to recommend to the Council, whether Papers submitted either by the members or non-members of the Society to be presented at lecture-meeting or for publication in the Journal should be read or published as requested by the authors or rejected. The Council may refer such Papers for evaluation or assessment to a specialist in the relevant field before taking such action. The Council shall, however, have the power to reject such Articles or Papers.
(b) Papers / Articles should reach the Editor well in time, Papers three months ahead of the date of the lecture and if an Article is being sent for publication, a Synopsis of it should be sent to the Editor, to reach him at least by the end of November each year.
(c) The Royal Asiatic Society resolves that permission would be granted for the publication of articles of controversial nature, only if such articles are supported with authentic historical evidence references.
(d) ‘ Notes and Queries’ received by the RASSL in connection with inaccuracies, distortion and errors in articles published in the RASSL Journal, must be published without delay or arbitrary censoring by the Editor provided such ‘Notes and Queries’ are fully referenced.
(e) Suppression or deletion of large sections of such papers must not be done without a valid reason. Such editing must be done in the interest of the RASSL and not through prejudice or individual requirements of a few individuals. The reason for such heavy editing must be made known to the paper writer or the RASSL membership if so requested.
25.03.2000
(153rd AGM)
25.03.2000
(153rd AGM)
50. (a) The Council shall have the power to send complimentary copies of the publications at its discretion. All members who have paid their subscriptions for a particular year shall be entitled to receive the Journals published by the Society during the year, free of charge or at a reduced price if the Council so decides. Special issues of the Journal shall be sold to members at a price fixed by the Council.
51. The Council shall have the power to publish, in separate form, papers, documents or books or books which it considers of sufficient value or importance keeping separate independent accounts of the sale of each publication.
52. Papers accepted by the Council shall become the property of the Society and shall not be published elsewhere without the consent of the Council. Acceptance of a paper for reading at a meeting does not bind the Society to publish subsequently when the Council decides not to publish any paper accepted for reading, or sent for publication that Paper shall be returned to the author, without restriction as to its further use. Papers read or published elsewhere shall not be entertained for publication or to be read at a lecture-meeting.
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PART XIII – LIBRARY COMMITTEE
53. The Librarian shall be the Secretary of the Committee. The Library Committee shall be responsible for the administration and proper management of the Library in accordance with the provisions herein laid down.
54. The Library Committee, shall carryout verifications (taking stock) of the Society’s Publications and the books in the library as and when decided by the Committee.
All books borrowed shall be returned to the library before the commencement of the verifications.
55. Every Resident Member shall be entitled to borrow two books at a time from the Library except such books as are reserved for reference only.
56. (a) Books or Journals borrowed should be returned to the Library within thirty days. A member could borrow the same book or journal for a further period of thirty days provided no other member has applied for the same book or Journal.
(b) A member who has retained a book or journal for More than thirty days without prior authority will be liable to a fine of Rs. 1/= per day per Publication, for any additional days the books etc. have been retained by the member.
(c) A member who has failed to return the publications borrowed for a continuous period of three months would be notified in writing by the Hony. Librarian to return the books along with the fines due on them.
(d) If, even after such notice, the publications are still not returned by the member, the Honorary Librarian should bring the matter to the notice of the Council without delay for appropriate action.
(e) The Council shall, at its very next meeting, after such information is received, inquire into the circumstances of such delay and, if no
Borrowing of Books 28
satisfactory explanation is tendered, take action to suspend the defaulting members for a specific period.
(f) If such member still fails to return the books etc., any action deemed fit, including expulsion from membership may be taken. However, if the publications are returned by this time, he/ she shall yet be liable to a penalty that would be decided by the Council.
(g) Lending of books by the Library – A list of Reference Books be separated by a Committee and lending of books be commenced.
**
PART XIV AD-HOC COMMITTEES
57. Each ad-hoc committee shall elect its own Chairman and Convenors and shall serve during the periods, the committees are scheduled to function i.e. till the purpose for which it was appointed and the objectives fulfilled. Vacancies in its membership shall be filled by the Council as and when they occur.
30.03.2002
PART XV – MISCELLANEOUS
58. Any member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and members of Royal Asiatic Societies in other countries shall be entitled to the use of the Library for reference and also to attend meetings.
59. If, upon winding up or dissolution of the Society there remains, after the payments of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to some Society or Association having objects similar to the objects of this Society or to any public educational institution as the Council functioning at the time of such winding up or dissolution may decide.
60. The articles of this Constitution shall not be added to, amended or repealed unless at least two thirds of the members present, at a Special General meeting or at an Annual General Meeting shall have voted for such addition, amendment or repeal of which due notice to members has been given.
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This amended Constitution was adopted unanimously at the Special General Meeting held on October 24, 1998, to take effect from October 25, 1998.
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* Note: This reprint includes all subsequent amendments up to 27th March 2015.
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RASSL_Constitution_Revised_18.01.2018_A5_Final