THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF JURIDICAL SCIENCES

MAGAZINE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION 2014

Prepared by the

NUJS MAGAZINE
COMMITTEE
THE NUJS MAGAZINE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION, 2014

[August 2nd, 2014]

A Resolution to codify and develop the rules relating to all cultural activities of NUJS as also to
define the rules regarding composition and procedure of the Magazine Committee and matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.

WHEREAS the Student Juridical Association (“SJA”) is an association of students in the West
Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (“WBNUJS” or “NUJS”) which oversees all
co-curricular and extra-curricular activities of the students of WBNUJS through its various
Committees and Societies;

WHEREAS the Magazine Committee (“Committee” or “the Society”) is a Society of the

SJA and is empowered under Article 12 of the Constitution of SJA to manage affairs relating
to all non-academic literary activities;

WHEREAS the rules relating to non-academic literary activities in NUJS have

evolved through practices and resolutions of the Committee over the past decade;

WHEREAS Committee for the year 2014-15 has, inspired by the concept of Rule of Law,
resolved to bring about transparency, accountability, certainty and predictability in matters
relating to all non-academic literary activities in NUJS;

AND

WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the rules relating to conducting of non-
academic literary activities and the procedures governing the Magazine Committee;

BE it resolved by the Committee in the Twelfth Year of the West Bengal National University of
Juridical Sciences as follows:-
 Part I

PRELIMINARY

1. Title and extent of operation:

(1) This Resolution shall be called the Magazine Committee Constitution 2014.

(2) It shall apply to the Magazine Committee, the members of the Committee as well as
any person participating in any event organized by the Committee, in all successive
editions of the Committee hereinafter.

2. Definitions:

(1) “Acting Convener” in the absence of the Convener shall be the senior most of the
two Co-Conveners, in whose absence it shall be the senior-most member of the
Magazine Committee by number of full years spent in the Committee.
(2) “Interested party” is a person directly affected by the outcome of a particular vote.
(3) “Working day” includes any day which is not a holiday as per the NUJS holiday list
and includes Saturday.
 Part II

THE SOCIETY

(1) Composition of Society:

The Society shall be constituted in the following manner:

(1) The Acting Convener of the Society shall, at the commencement of an Academic Year,
notify the General Body of his intention to constitute the Magazine Committee for the
new Academic Year.

(2) Any member of the General Body may apply in writing to be a member of the Society
within the stipulated time from the date of such notice.

(3) The application should mention the name, ID Number, contact telephone number and
particulars as to the points of the applicant. If an applicant desires to contest for the post
of Convener or Co-Convener, the same should be mentioned expressly during the
relevant communication.

(4) Committee Points shall be calculated as prescribed in Appendix 1 to the Constitution.

(5) Selection for the Society shall take place only on the basis of the above points in the
following manner:

a) 4 associate members are to be inducted from the 1st year batch.

Proviso: The Committee members hold the discretion to increase or decrease the
number of associate members to be inducted as and when necessary. This discretion
can be exercised, if required, in the form of acceptance of fresh applications in the
following semester and not in the midst of the existing semester.
 (6) Every Member of the Magazine Committee shall also de facto be a member of the
Yearbook Committee to be constituted for that Academic Year.

Explanation: (1) The Yearbook is a collection of testimonials and pictures of every

student of the graduating batch of that Academic Year, to be handed out at the
Convocation for this batch, as and when the date is decided by the University, in the
format of a book.

Explanation: (2) The Yearbook Committee may additionally exercise its own discretion to
include members from the General Body.

(7) Election:

i. The Society, for an academic year, in its first meeting, shall elect the Convener and 2
Co-Conveners for the academic year.

ii. The meeting for the purpose of election shall be convened and overseen by the Acting
Convener or any other person from the previous year’s society with no interest in the
outcome of the elections.

iii. The Convener and Co-Conveners shall be elected through a majority vote.

Votes shall be expressed by a secret ballot or by a person not present at the meeting through a
telephone call to the Election Committee member or the General Body member present at the
meeting, made at the time of the meeting or through a representative authorized in writing.

iv. A person standing for the post of Convener or Co-Convener must have been a member
of the Society for at least one year, previously.

(5) Where there is a tie in the number of votes secured by two or more candidates contesting
for the same position, the following criteria shall be used in the order provided, to break
 the tie:

a. The number of years completed as a Member of the Society.

b. Toss of coin.

Explanation: If a member has resigned or been expelled in a particular year before the
completion of his term, such year shall not be counted for the calculation of years
completed as a Member of the Society.

(6) In case only one person is standing for the post of either Convener or Co-Convener,
there shall be no elections held for the same.

5. Convener and Co-Convener:

(1) The Convener and Co-Conveners shall discharge such functions as provided for under
the Constitution of the Student Juridical Association of NUJS.

(2) The functions of the Convener shall be discharged by the Co-Convener, or failing
him/her, the Acting Convener in the following circumstances:

a. Death, incapacity, resignation or absence of the Convener;

b. In meetings relating to particular matters, where the Convener is an interested party in

such matter;

c. In matters relating to particular events conducted by the Committee, if the Convener

is participating in such event.

Except while acting under sub-clauses (b) and (c), the Acting Convener shall promptly
inform the Convener of all decisions and actions taken
 Explanation: (1) Absence of the Convener for the purpose of this Clause is to be
determined on the basis of a communication from the Convener stating that s/he will be
unable to discharge her/his functions given her/his geographical location or other
reasons provided that the Committee may decide that a situation of absence exists
through a unanimous vote of all members present and voting, which shall under no
circumstance be less than six. Mere geographical distance shall not be construed as
absence.

(3) The Convener and Co-Conveners shall additionally be given the designation and
responsibility of Editors-in-Chief for the Yearbook.

6. Treasurer:

1) The Treasurer shall discharge all functions as provided for under the Constitution of the
Student Juridical Association of NUJS.
2) The Treasurer shall be elected as per the norms of selection of Office-Bearers.
3) The duties of the Treasurer shall include the drafting of a budget for the year, with the
approval of the Convener and Co-Convener, maintenance of all receipts and expenditure
incurred maintenance of the bank account of the Society, and ensuring efficient use of
funds.
Explanation: (1) If two Co-Conveners are elected, the second will be the Treasurer for
the year and no further elections will be held, unless in case of his/her resignation.

Explanation: (2) The budget shall provide mainly for a Yearbook to be published each
year for the graduating fifth year batch, as well as additional expenses.

7. Meetings:

(1) Except for express provisions to the contrary in this Constitution or in the Constitution of
the Student Juridical Association, a meeting of the Society shall be convened only by the
 Convener of the Society with a notice of 6 hours to all members.

(2) All decisions in a meeting shall be taken either by consensus or a majority vote.

(3) Votes may be expressed by a show of hands or by a person not present at the meeting
through a telephone call to the person convening the meeting, made at the time of the
meeting or through a representative authorized in writing.

(4) The quorum for a meeting shall be 4 members, including the Convener, Co-Convener(s)
or Acting Convener.

8. Disciplinary proceedings:

(1) The Convener may, after providing a fair hearing, and with the approval of the Society,
take disciplinary action against any Member of the Society or a participant in any of the
competitions conducted by the Society, for proven misconduct, malpractice or breach of
the Constitution or any further Rules laid down by the Society.
Explanation: Misconduct includes any and all behavior detrimental to the Society or
Members of the Society. This includes any failure to perform assigned tasks in the
manner prescribed, failure to complete assigned work within the time period allotted,
failure to appear for a total of three meetings without an adequate explanation and
timely notice being given.
Explanation: Such disciplinary action will be in the form of a Showcause Notice, to be
heard by the Convener and Co-Conveners.

(2) Where such actions are taken against a Member, they may be in the form of suspension
from Membership or termination of Membership.

(3) Where such action is to be taken against any other person, it may be in form of reduction
of points for a round or for the event in question, reduction of Committee points,
cancellation of chances, debarring from participation in activities for a prescribed period
 or any other action approved by the Society.

(4) If the Convener fails to perform his/her duties adequately, the Co-Convener, with
consensus from a majority of the members, shall have the power to take disciplinary
action against the Convener.

(5) If the Co-Convener fails to perform his/her duties adequately, the Convener shall have
the power to take disciplinary action against the Co-Convener.

9. Resignation:

(1) Any Member including the Co-Convener may resign from the Society by notifying the
Convener in writing.

(2) The Convener may tender his resignation to the Co-Convener.

(3) The foregoing is to supplement and not to abrogate the provisions in the Constitution of
the Student Juridical Association in respect of resignations.
10. Termination:

(1) Any member who remains absent for three consecutive meetings without reasonable
justification shall be deemed to have resigned from the Committee.

11. Faculty advisor:

The Faculty Advisor of the Society shall discharge the functions prescribed in the
Constitution of the Student Juridical Association.

12. Grievance redressed:

(1) Any person aggrieved by any action or omission of the Society may communicate such
 grievance in writing to the Society.

If the action or inaction of the Society complained against is in respect of a particular

event organized by the Society, any participant in such event communicating a grievance
will be deemed to have been an aggrieved person.

(3) In all other circumstances where a grievance is communicated, the complainant shall, in
his communication, specifically demonstrate his interest in the matter and how he is
aggrieved by the action or omission he is complained of.

(4) The Convener shall, convene a meeting to discuss the grievance and remedy the same if
required as soon as may be possible.

(5) Where a person communicating the grievance states that it is of such importance that a
decision needs to be taken immediately, the Convener shall hear the person
communicating the grievance in presence of at least the Co-Convener and the senior-
most Member in terms of years completed in the Society. Thereafter, the Convener, Co-
Convener and the senior-most Member shall decide if the matter requires to be decided
upon within a shorter time frame than the one provided in Clause (4). Where such a
decision is arrived at by the Convener, Co-Convener and the senior-most Member,
nothing in this Code shall prevent the convening of a meeting by the Convener at a time
of his choice provided that all Members have been duly notified of the meeting and the
agenda.
 Part III

MISCELLANEOUS

21. Power to make temporary rules by notification, not in derogation of the Code:

Committee shall have the power to make rules, not in derogation of this Code, which shall persist
for the duration of that academic year.

22. Amendment of the Code:

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Code, Committee may amend by way of addition, variation
or repeal any provision of this Code, by a two-thirds majority of the total number of members of
the Society.

(2) Any amendment so made shall be made available to the General Body immediate.