• To hold scientific meetings separately or alongwith the Association of Surgeons of India or such other Association or societies.
• To encourage the formation of state and regional branches of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• To encourage scientific research and experimental work in Orthopaedic Surgery
• To hold scientific discussions and read papers on orthopaedic and allied subjects
• To provide for the delivery and holding of lectures, meetings and classes for medical practitioners/others for the purpose of directly or indirectly advancing the cause of orthopaedic Surgery
• To establish and maintain reference library/libraries relating to orthopaedic surgery
• To provide instructions an education for the advancement of Orthopaedic Surgery among medical practitioners
• To watch and advise on legislation affecting orthopaedic surgery and allied subjects
• To advise other association/voluntary bodies/Government agencies on matters affecting the interest and development of orthopaedic surgery including standardization of instruments, implants and orthotic & prosthetic appliances, problems of rehabilitation and resettlement of physically handicapped; to advice on matters concerning teaching and training of medical students (Undergraduates and post-graduates) and research in Orthopaedic Surgery and to suggest ways and means for improving the training of the paramedical personnel
• To associate together in one corporate body all qualified workers actively practicing or interested in the science and art of orthopaedic surgery and allied subjects
• To establish contact/affiliations with other societies or Association and exchange scientific information and collaborate with them in progress of common interest
• To publish journals, proceedings, brochures, periodicals and abstracts pertaining to orthopaedic surgery and allied subjects.
• To promote social and professional contacts among the surgeons in India and abroad
• To hold properties,movable or immovable that may be necessary or advantageous for the aforesaid objects, to purchase, sell, rent, lease and to mortgage the same for the benefit of the Association
• To receive donations and subscriptions and to hold the funds in trust for any particular purpose or purpose for the advancement of orthopaedic surgery and allied branches
• To encourage exhibitions of instruments, implants, tools, appliances etc., connected with or pertaining to orthopaedic surgery and to attempt to improve such instruments and appliances for the special needs of this country
• To construct, alter and maintain any building necessary for the running of the association
• To make rules, regulations and by-laws of the Association and to delete, change or add to the same as and when necessary, conductive to the attainment of all or any of the objects of the association
• To initiate any other programme which may be decided on from time to time by the association for the advancement of orthopaedic surgery

• Name:The name of the Society shall be "The Indian Orthopaedic Association" hereinafter called the Association in these rules and regulations
  
  
• The objects:The objects of the association are given in the Memorandum of Association
  
  
• Office and scope:

• The Principal office of the association shall be located in Delhi till the Annual General meeting in 90/91 by which time a piece of land/building is procured in Delhi for permanent office accommodation failing which any of the Metropolitan cities of India may be considered for location of Association headquarters
• The association shall operate throughout the Republic of India and in foreign countries wherever deemed necessary
• It will operate directly or through branches established and affiliated in furtherance of the objects of the association

• Membership: Membership of the association shall comprise of the following categories
  
  • Honorary Fellows
  • Corresponding Members
  • Life Members
  • Full Members
  • Associate Members

• Honorary Fellows: May be elected from men or women of distinction, including laymen residing in India or abroad, who have made outstanding contribution to the progress of orthopaedic surgery
  
• Corresponding Members: May be elected from distinguished orthopaedic surgeons resident abroad
  
• Life members: Members of the association who contribute a minimum of Rs.3000/ (three thousand only) to the funds of the Association may be elected to life membership of the association
  
• Full members:

Members may be elected from surgeons of high academic and professional standing, and Associates of the association who have completed an acceptable training in orthopaedic surgery and have acquired post graduate degree diploma in the speciality

Members may be elected from those (1) who have completed an acceptable training in orthopaedic surgery and (2) are engaged in practice of orthopaedic surgery or (3) related subject of (4) who are engaged in practice of allied subjects closely related to orthopaedic surgery.
The application for membership of category (2) will be made to the Secretary who will place it before the Executive Committee for scrutiny and acceptance.

• Associate Members:

Associate Members may be elected from those who are trained in orthopaedic surgery and from physicians and surgeons in this or other countries who are interested in Orthopaedic surgery or allied branches of medicines

Associate Members may also be elected from those who are qualified physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other paramedical personnel of at least five years standing in their respective professions and interested in rehabilitation of the orthopaedically Handicapped

Associate members of association shall have the right of attending scientific meeting and social events and engaging in all scientific discussions but they shall not attend business meetings and take part in elections

Applications for Membership and Associate Membership must be made on an official form and be supported by two members of the association and forwarded to the secretary, who will place it before the Executive Committee for consideration. Life Members and full members may also submit names for consideration for election to any category of membership to the Secretary
Election for all categories of membership shall be by a majority vote at a business meeting

• Subscription
  
  • The annual subscription for members and Associates will be due on the 1st of April each year and is payable in advance
  • Fifty per cent of the total subscription shall be made payable to the Treasurer of the Indian Orthopaedic Association and the remaining fifty per cent to the Managing Editor of the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics
  • The annual subscription shall be determined from time to time by the executive committee and approved by a simple majority at a business meeting
  • Associates who are elected as full members shall pay the appropriate subscription on the 1st April next following year
  • Honorary Fellows, Life Members and full Members may be invited to make periodical or annual contribution to any of the existing funds and trusts and other special activities of the association
  • All persons attending scientific meetings may be required to pay a registration fee should that be considered necessary if and when it is considered necessary, for enhancement of contribution for Life Membership
    
    
• Cessation of Membership
  
  • No member or associate will be entitled to any of the privileges of the Association with his or her subscription to the association and / or the Indian journal of Orthopaedics is in arrears for more than three years and in the event of its remaining unpaid even after a reminder under Registered post, he or she shall automatically cease to be a Member or Associate of the Association. Re-election may be granted by the Executive Committee if all the arrears are paid and an application in writing is made to the Secretary
  • Any member of Associate wishing to withdraw his or her membership from the association shall give notice in writing to the secretary not less than three months before the end of the financial year
  • Any member or associate whose resignation is requested under Rule 16(d) shall have the right to appeal to the next business meeting of the Executive Committee provided he or she makes a written application to the Secretary within 14 days of receiving the request
    
    
• Chapters
  
  • There may be Regional or State Chapters of the association in each state or region as is thought feasible by the executive committee. Within the region or state any district or city may have a local branch which shall be guided by the regional or the state chapter
  • All chapters shall be constituted and shall function in accordance with the Rules of the association
  • Such chapters may hold scientific meetings during the year at any place in India as arranged by the Regional and/or state chapter
    
    
• Accounts and Finances
  
  • The association FINANCIAL year shall extend from 1st April to 31st March, both days inclusive
  • The accounts of the association shall be maintained in the name of the association at a bank or banks authorised by the executive committee
  • The treasurer shall have charge of all money and assets of the association
  • All property and money shall be vested in the name of the Association
  • The payment of subscription and/or donations shall be made to the treasurer of the association. Fifty per cent of the subscription shall be made payable to the Managing Editor, of Indian Journal of Orthopaedics
  • No member of any committee or sub-committee shall incur any expenses on behalf of the association except with the written permission of the Secretary and the Treasurer
  • The accounts of the association shall be audited annually
  • The accounts of the association shall be operated jointly by the treasurer and any one of the following members of the executive committee
    • President
    • Secretary
    • Joint Secretary
• Scientific Meetings
  
  • The scientific meetings shall be held every year. The venue and the dates of the meeting called the Annual Meeting of the Indian orthopaedic Association, shall be decided by the vote of majority at a business meeting of the Association, but the Executive Committee may alter these arrangements under extraordinary circumstances
  • The Local Secretary for the Scientific Meetings will be elected at a business meeting from amongst members of the Association at the venue of the proposed conference
  • The programme for each meeting shall be settled by the programme committee and suitably notified by the secretary
  • Any member or an Associate of the Association or any other person wishing to present a communication shall furnish three copies of the abstract to the secretary at least 12 weeks before the date of the meeting
  • No communication presented to the Association that has been published unless specially requested by the programme committee
  • Every communication presented to the Association becomes the property of the Association which has the right to publish it in the official publication of the Association or elsewhere to be determined in agreement with the author
  • Every person presenting a communication shall supply to the Editor of the Indian Journal Of Orthopaedics an abstract four weeks before the meeting and if requested he shall also supply a full typescript with illustrations within a reasonable time in a form suitable for publication
    
    
• Business Meeting
  
  • A business meeting shall be held at least once during the course of each scientific meeting and on such other occasions as may be decided by the executive committee
  • Only life members and full members of the association shall be entitled to attend and vote at business meetings and twenty five shall form a quorum
  • The President shall call a business meeting within twenty eight days of receiving a request signed by not less than one quarter of the members eligible to vote specifying the nature of the business
    
    
• Publications
  
  • The main official publication of the Association shall be the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics

  • The office bearers of the Editorial Board shall be:
    Two Editors
    One Associate Editor
    Nine members
    Three members of the Editorial Board who have served continuously
    for three years shall retire and three members be elected from amongst the members eligible to vote in the Annual General Body Meeting

• Officers
  
  • The officers of the Association shall be a President, President Elect, two Vice-presidents, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer
  • All Officers except the Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually
    
    
• Executive Committee
  
  • The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, two immediate Past Presidents, President-Elect, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and members elected from approved State Chapters according to their I.O.A. membership strength as on 31.12. of the previous year, in the following ratios:-
    1 to 74 ....... nil
    75 to 149 ..... one
    150 to 259..... two
    250 and above... three
    Not more than three Executive Member shall be elected from any State Chapter, Each of these members shall hold office for three years but may contest for re-election for one more term
    A group of State Chapters may join together for the purpose of eligibility to elect Executive Committee member.
    Only Life Members and Full Members who are not defaulters are eligible to contest
  • The two Editors of the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics and two Secretaries of the Fellowship Committee shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee and serve for three years
    They may be elected for another term of three years
  • Five shall form a quorum at a meeting of the Executive Committee
  • No member of the Executive Committee shall serve for more than six years
    
    
• Election of the Officers and Members of the Executive
  
  • The president, President-Elect, two Vice-Presidents shall be elected annually, from amongst Life Members and Full Members of the Association who are eligible to vote in a manner stipulated in Rule 15 (c)
    The Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer, two Fellowship Secretaries, two Editors of the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics and members elected from approved State Chapters shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-election for another term
    The treasurer and the Joint Secretary shall be elected by the Executive from such members of the IOA who are resident and working in the Union Territory of Delhi to facilitate smooth day-to-day running of the registered office at Delhi.
  • At least 12 weeks before the Annual General Body Meeting, the Secretary shall send to each Life Member and Full member eligible to Vote, a notice of the meeting accompanied by a list of vacancies to be filled in for nominations. All nominations must be received by the Secretary within 28 days of the dispatch of the notice convening the meeting. If there is more than one nomination for any vacancy, election shall be on the basis of a majority vote. Any candidate may withdraw his name at least two weeks before posting of ballot papers. The manner of election shall be secret ballot only

  • The Executive Committee as constituted in accordance with these Rules shall continue in office not withstanding their period of service which has expired until their successors have been duly elected

• Powers, Functions and Duties of the Executive Committee
  
  • The management of the association shall vest in the Executive Committee of the association
  • The Executive Committee shall have power to fill up casual vacancies amongst the officers(except the President) and other members of the committee subject to confirmation at the next business meeting
  • The executive Committee shall control the affairs of the Association, its funds and assets. The income and the property of the Association, howsoever derived shall be spent solely towards the objects of the Association and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly for any other purpose except for (a) the purpose of providing scholarships and fellowships to be offered for competition amongst the Life members, Full members and Associate of the Association (b) as gift to the orthopaedic Charitable, Education and other trusts of the Association
  • The Executive Committee shall have power to request the resignation of member deemed contrary to the interest of the Association or to have ceased to take interest in the objects of the Association or to have been disobedient to the Rules or guilty of unprofessional act of public misdemeanor, provided that the person concerned shall be notified of the proposed action not less than eight weeks before the next business meeting
  • The Executive Committee shall have power to remit, reduce or suspend the subscription of any Life Member, Full Member or Associate at its discretion
  • Without prejudice to the power of the general body of the Association of the Executive Committee may exercise powers, functions and duties as under:
    
    • To appoint committees, commissions and sub-committees and delegate such of the functions and powers to them as it may deem necessary
    • To co-opt life member, full member, associate or any other persons to any committee
    • To appoint delegates to represent the association at conferences in India and abroad
    • To purchase, build or otherwise acquire and hold land, buildings, machinery, plants, furniture, vehicles, books and other equipment that may be found necessary in furtherance of the functions and duties of the Association for and to the name of the Association
    • To receive donations and benefactions for and in the name of the Association
    • To constitute trusts and foundations for specific activities of the Association, e.g. Education trust
    • To arrange scholarship and fellowships
    • The Executive Committee appoint and Auditor and fix his remuneration
    • The Executive Committee may appoint a full time Administrative officer who will not be a member of IOA for better management of day to day office work. His remuneration and specific duties shall be fixed by the Executive Committee and approved by the General Body
    • To do all such acts and exercise all such powers as may be necessary in furtherance of the objects of the association.
• Duties and powers of the officers
  • President:
    • He shall preside over the meetings of the Executive Committee and all other scientific and business meetings, functions, seminars, symposia etc., convened by or on behalf of the association. He shall deliver a presidential address
    • The President shall be ex-officio member of all Committees and Sub-Committees
    • The President may co-opt a Life Member or Full Member in the Executive Committee from Regions/States unrepresented in the Executive Committee. The number of co-opted member shall not exceed three and their tenure of service shall be determined by the President
    • The President shall submit his resignation to the Executive Committee
  • President-Elect:
    • The President-Elect shall deputize for the President on all occasions when the President is absent or ceases to hold office
      during his term. He shall succeed as President for the rest of the term
    • He shall submit his resignation to the President
  • Vice Presidents:
    • In the absence of the President or President-Elect,one of the Vice-Presidents shall deputize in all functions of the President
    • He shall submit his resignation to the President
    • In the absence of the President, President-Elect and Vice-Presidents, the Executive committee shall elect a chairman for any particular meeting or for the remaining term of office
  • Secretary:
    • The secretary shall be responsible for the organization and execution of all policies and programmes of the association and shall submit reports at the meeting of the Executive committee regarding thereto. He shall also present the annual report at the annual meeting of the Executive Committee giving a general review of the work of the Association in the preceding year.
    • he shall prepare and keep the minutes of all the business meetings of the association and meetings of the executive committee and see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of rules and bye-laws. He will circulate the accounts for the year along with the minutes of the last annual general body meeting along with the notice of the next annual general body meeting
    • He shall be the custodian of the seal of the Association and other associated items
    • He shall be the custodian of all the documents and the papers of the association
    • He shall be the Returning officer for all the elections except where he is a contesting candidate for any office bearer, and his declaration by him shall be final unless reverted by the President. The President will be overseeing the election himself when the returning officer is a candidate
    • He shall make the appointment of all vacancies in the association starting with a basic monthly salary of less than rupees four hundred to be approved by the executive committee in its next meeting
    • He shall have the power to suspend, punish and otherwise control or regulate the employees of the association whose monthly salary is less than rupees four hundred by the executive committee in its next meeting
    • He will sign and execute all contracts or other instruments in the name of the association and shall exercise general supervision over the affairs of the association
    • He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and sub-committees of the association
    • He shall inform the managing editor of the Indian journal of Orthopaedics the arrears of the subscription of the full members and associates of the association within the first month of the commencement of the new year
    • He shall prepare a current voters list of all the Life Members and Full Members of the Association within the first quarter of each year
    • He shall submit his resignation to the President
  • Joint Secretary: He shall look after the day-to-day working of the head office being a resident and working in the Union Territory of Delhi, under the direction of the Secretary
  • Treasurer
    • He will keep accounts of the Association
    • He shall present the Annual Audited Accounts of the previous year and unaudited accounts of the current year at the Annual Body Meeting
    • He shall present a Budget for the next year at the Annual General Body Meeting
    • During his absence due to illness or abroad, the President will delegate in writing his duties to any other member of the Executive Committee
    • All cheques and other negotiable instruments shall be signed jointly by the Treasurer and any one of the following: the Secretary, Joint Secretary or the President
    • He will submit his resignation to the President
    • The Secretary and Treasurer may incur petty expenses for smooth running of the Association work, not exceeding five hundred rupees or one single item and get it reimbursed on production of proper receipts and vouchers
• Sub-Committees
  • In accordance with the Rule 16-f(1), the Executive Committee shall have power to appoint Sub-Committee for such other purposes as it may decide and appoint members of Sub-committees
  • The Sub-committees shall have the power to co-opt any one who may assist their work without reference to Executive Committee provided the name of these co-opted members are recorded in the written report of the sub-committee to be presented annually to the Executive Committee
  • A written report of the proceedings of each sub-committee shall be presented annually to the executive committee
  • The following permanent sub-committee shall also be appointed as under:
    • Fellowship committee shall consist of:
      The President of the Association
      Two immediate past Presidents of the Association
      Secretary of the Association.
      Two Secretaries, Fellowship Committee Foreign & Indian
      Two Editors of the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics.
      
      The Secretary of the Fellowship committee shall be elected by the Executive Committee a term of three years which may be extended for another term. At least three shall form a quorum.
    • Programme committee shall consist of:
      The president of the Association.
      The Secretary of the Association.
      The local Secretary
      Any other member elected by the Executive Committee
      The programme committee shall decide the arrangements for scientific meetings and select the papers to be presented at the Annual Conference
      
      
• Alteration of constitution and rulesThe rules and regulations shall be altered only by the vote of at least three-fourths of the members (life and full) present at a meeting specially convened for the purpose. The Secretary shall dispatch a notice of such meeting and of every proposed alteration by post to every member eligible to vote, not less than 30 days before the date of the meeting and no rule shall be altered unless such notice has been given.
  One-sixth of life members and full members in the register of Association shall form a quorum at a meetings convened to alter the constitution
  
• Indemnity Neither the office bearers nor the members of the Central and /or branches Executive authorities nor members of the Association shall be answerable for any act done in good faith by them for the sake of conformity only, for the monies of the Association other than such as shall come into their own hands or for any collections or receiver of monies appointed by the Central Executive/Council/Branch Executive Committee or member of the Association or any reason of any error in judgement or mere indiscretion on their part in the performance of their duties or otherwise on account except for willful negligence or fraud.Every person being an office bearer or a member of the Central Executive Council/Branch Executive Committee or a member of the Association, his heirs, executors and administrators shall at time be indemnified out of the funds of the association from the against all costs, losses, damages and or expenses whatsoever incurred or sustained by him in the execution of his powers or duties and every person having been a/or being an office bearer or a member of the Central Executive Council/Branch Executive Committee or a member of the Association, his heirs, executors and administrators shall be indemnified and saved harmless out of the funds of the Association against all action, suits,claims and demands whatsoever brought or made against him or them either severally or jointly in respect of any engagement of the Association such as may be incurred by his own personal willful neglect or fraudDissolution
  
• No less than three-fifth of the life members and full members of the association may determine that it shall be dissolved and thereupon it shall be dissolved forth with or at any time agreed upon, and all necessary steps shall be taken by the Executive Committee for the disposal and settlement of the property of the Association, the claims and liabilities, according to the Rules of the Association the adjustment of affairs shall be referred to the Principal court of the original civil jurisdiction of the district in which the office of the association situates and the court shall make such order in the matter as it shall deem requisite If on the dissolution of the Association there remains after satisfaction of its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever the same shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the association but shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having the object of the advancement of medical sciences and art, such institution or institutions to be determined by the three-fifth of the members at or before the time of dissolution and, if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provision then to some other charitable object
  
• All provisions of the Societies and Registration Act (1860) as amended from time to time shall apply to the Association