Statutes of CLSI

I) NAME
The name of the Society shall be” The Canon Law
Society of India.”

II) OBJECTS

2. The objects of the Society shall be:
a) To favour contacts among the Canonists in India.
b) To create an interest in Canon Law and to promote and assist research in canonical matters.
c) To act as an information centre on matters of Canon Law and on matters of civil law concerning ecclesiastical issues.
d) To foster a dialogue between Canon Law and other ecclesiastical and secular disciplines.
e) To maintain contact with other Canon Law Societies.

III). MEMBERSHIP
3. Only Roman Catholics shall be members of the Society. Membership shall be either Ordinary, Honorary or Associate.
4. Ordinary Membership
a) All those with a Degree in Canon Law are eligible to be Ordinary members of the Society
b) Ordinary membership is obtained by applying to the Secretary of the Society and this membership shall be approved by the Executive Committee before becoming effective.
5. Honorary Membership
Honorary membership is granted on the recommendation of the Executive Committee (cf.No.13 below) and with the approval of the Ordinary members at a General Body Meeting.
6. Associate Membership
Professors of Canon Law those working in Ecclesiastical Tribunals and any person interested in Canon Law may obtain Associate Membership of the Society on application to the Secretary and approval by the Executive Committee.
7. (a) A member shall lose membership if, having failed to pay his annual subscription for Two successive years, he omits to pay the arrears of subscription even after two reminders. Any such person may be readmitted as a member of the Society by the Executive Committee on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit to impose.
(b) If after a reasonable investigation the Executive Committee decided that the continued membership of an individual is contrary to the interest of the Society, that member shall be invited to resign; should he fail to do so within 30 days, he shall be deemed to have the right to appeal to the Society, pending the decision of which his membership shall remain suspended.

IV. MEETINGS
8. (a) An ordinary General Body Meeting of the Society shall be held once a year. The Executive Committee shall decide the time and place of the meeting and propose the agenda.
(b) All general meetings of the Society shall be called by the Secretary in consultation with the president, giving to the members at least two months notice in writing, stating the time and place at which the meeting is to be held and the business to transacted thereat. Provided that in the case
of necessity, the president or the Executive Committee may instruct the Secretary to summon a general Body Meeting by not less than 30 days notice as aforesaid.
(c) An extraordinary meeting of the Society shall be held at such times as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. Provided that Vth of the Ordinary Members of the Society may summon an extraordinary meeting by a written notice to the Secretary stating the business which they wish to be discussed at that meeting. This meeting shall discuss only the business for which the meeting was called.
(d) The Executive Committee shall determine all matters of procedure at the meeting.
(e) All Ordinary members have an active voice at the General Body meetings of the Society.  Associate and Honorary members may participate in the meetings but shall have no vote.
(f) No person, who is not a member of the Society, Ordinary Honorary or Associate, shall without the permission of the Chairman, be present at any General Body Meeting of the Society. The quorum for any General Body Meeting of the Society shall be 20 Ordinary members or Vth of the total number of the ordinary members, whichever shall be the less.
(g) Except as otherwise provided for in the Statutes, or as decided by the General Body, all questions shall be decided by an absolute majority of the votes of those Ordinary Members present and voting at a General Body Meeting of the Society.
(h) In case of any equality of votes on any matter at the General Body Meeting, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
9. (a) The General Body Meeting of the Society shall normally take place during the annual Convention when members have the opportunity to meet and to discuss matters of canonical interest.
(b) It is the responsibility of the Executive Committee to prepare the programme for the  Convention and to see to the other arrangements connected with the Convention.

V. FINANCES

10. The annual subscription payable by each member shall be fixed from time to time by the Society at its General Body Meeting.
11. The annual dues and any contributions received by the Society from other sources shall be used to promote the objects of the Society and to cover its expenses.
12. Should the Society cease to exist, its funds shall be turned over to the Catholic Bishops Conference of India That will dispose of them for objects similar to those pursued by the Society.

VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
13. The Executive Committee of the Canon Law Society shall consist of the Office-Bearers of
the Society i.e. the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and 3
other members to be elected at a General Body Meeting of the Society. The quorum for
the meetings of the Executive Committee shall be 4.
14. The President shall be elected from among the Ordinary members of the Society at an Annual General Body Meeting of the Society for a period of 2 years. He shall be eligible for re-election for a further team of office, but he shall not thereafter be eligible for re- elections as President until he has been out of the office for at least one term of 2 years.
15. The other Office-Bearers and members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by ballot from among the Ordinary members at an annual General Body Meeting of the Society for a period of 2 years and shall be eligible for re-election.
16. The President shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee and shall chair the general Body Meeting of the Society. He shall act officially in the name of the Society and represent it all meetings.
17. The duties of the Vice-President shall be to assist the President and to perform the duties of the President in the absence and at the request of the President.
18. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
(a) to keep a current list of names and addressed of members
(b) to keep a record of all meetings, correspondence and minutes
( c) to notify members of the time, place and agenda of the meetings
(d) to conduct the elections for the office- bearers and the members of the Executive Committee
(e) to present at every annual general Body Meeting, a report of the work of the Executive Committee since the last annual General Body Meeting.
19. The Treasurer of the Society shall collect the dues to be paid by the members and shall  administer the funds of the Society. He shall present the annual Financial Report for approval by the Society at its annual GBM.
20. In the case of death, resignation or disability if the President, the Vice President shall take over the office of President till the next General Body Meeting. In the event of any of the other  Office- Bearers ceasing from office, the Executive Committee shall appoint an Office-Bearer to fill
up the vacancy till the next General Body Meeting.

VII. SUB-COMMITTEES
21. The Executive may from time to time establish Sub-Committees, which it may deem useful for the pursuit of the Society’s objects.

VIII. AMENDMENTS
22. The Provisions of this Constitution may be amended on the following conditions:

(a) The amendments shall be proposed by not less than 5 ordinary members of the Society, who shall have signed and submitted a written proposal to this effect to the Secretary not less than 3
months before the date of the General Body Meeting.
(b) Provided that the amendment is not in conflict with an of the objects of the Society and
(c) Provided that the amendment is passed by the majority of 2/3 rd of the Ordinary members present and voting by ballot at the said General Body Meeting.