Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance

Governing Document

PREAMBLE

While upholding our commitment to the rule of law,

To raise awareness on transparency and accountability in governance;

To empower students, lawyers, citizens and public officials to contribute effectively to ensure transparency and accountability in governance;

To create and promote quality research in the area of transparency and accountability in governance;

1. INTERPRETATION
   
   "Advisory Board" means Committee referred to in clause 4 of this constitution.
   
   "Executive Council" means the governing body of the Centre referred to in clause 5 of this Constitution.
   
   "Governing Council" means the body comprising of the Executive Council and the Chairman as its Head.
   
   "Centre" means the Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance.
   
   "University" means National Law University Delhi as constituted under the National Law University Act, 2007 (Delhi Act No. 1 of 2008).
   
   "Vice-Chancellor" means the Vice-Chancellor of National Law University Delhi as appointed in accordance with the National Law University Act, 2007 (Delhi Act No. 1 of 2008).
   
   "Director" means the person appointed pursuant to clause 5 of this Constitution.
   
   "General Body" means the body of members pursuant to clause 7 of this Constitution.
   
   "Affiliated Organization" means and includes an organization, institute, research centre or program with significant focus on the fields or broad areas of research similar to or beneficial for the objectives and operations of the Centre. The affiliation will be provided by the Chairman in consultation with the Director through an instrument such as Memorandum of Understanding.
   
2. STATEMENTS OF AIMS
   
   The aims of the Centre are:
   1. To provide consultative services to people, NGO, civil societies on the Right to Information Act, 2005 and other issues related to good governance.
   2. To conduct sensitization programmes on issues pertaining to good governance: street play, skit, awareness camps etc.
   3. To organise seminar/conference, workshop, debate/discussion, quiz etc on good governance issues.
   4. Publication of journals, magazine, newsletter etc on good governance issues.
   5. Designing of Course curriculum for, Certificate, Diploma, PG and UG on good governance
   6. Orientation/Training of Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities, and Information Commissioners under the RTI Act, 2005, faculty members, civil societies, NGOs etc. on good governance.
   7. To stimulate and conduct quality research on issues of good governance.
   8. To liaise with NGOs, Civil Societies, Public Authorities for conducting research and undertaking projects regarding good governance.
   9. To file suit/petition/application/appeal before the Supreme Court, High Courts and other Courts & Tribunals for the promotion of issues related to transparency and accountability in governance of public and private institutions.
   10. Any other assignment related to transparency and accountability in governance.
3. STRUCTURE OF THE CENTRE
   1. The Vice-Chancellor shall be the Chairman of the Centre.
   2. There shall be a Director of the Centre.
   3. There shall be an Executive Council comprising of the Director and Executive Committee.
4. ADVISORY BOARD
   1. The Advisory Board will assist the Executive Council by:
      1. advising on policy and strategy to meet the objectives of the Centre;
      2. advising, and assisting in reporting, on the management of Centre resources;
      3. identifying potential new sources of funding for the Centre;
   2. The Advisory Board will conduct its own proceedings.
   3. Membership of the Advisory Board will be as follows.
      1. There Board shall comprise of not less than 10 members.
      2. A person having good experience in transparency and actuality in governance shall be appointed as a member.
      3. Members of the Advisory Board shall be nominated by the Chairman in consultation with the Director
      4. Each such nomination as in sub clause 4.3 (2) above may be subject to annual renewal.
5. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
   1. There shall be an Executive Council comprising of the Director and the Executive Committee for the management of various committees of the Centre.
   2. The Director will be the Chairperson of the Executive Council and will be accountable to the Chairman.
   3. The Director shall be appointed by the Chairman. The Chairman, while appointing Director, shall take into consideration the specialization of faculty member and objectives of the Centre. A Full time faculty member shall only be appointed as Director.
      
      Provided that, in no case shall the post of Director of the Center lay vacant for a period exceeding 60 days.
   4. The Director, in case of contingency, may delegate any power, function or authority pertaining to the operation of the Centre to an appropriately qualified person or committee.
   5. The Executive Council shall be responsible for the overall financial and academic administration of the Centre and for the day to day activities of the Center in accordance with the legislation, policies and procedures of the University and the academic and research objectives of the University.
   6. The Executive Council must submit an annual report to Chairman on the operations of the Centre for the previous calendar year. The annual report must be submitted each year by the last week of February and will include a financial statement of funds received and expended.
6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
   1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Centre.
   2. The members of the Executive Committee of the Centre shall be selected by the Director and a special committee constituted by Director.
   3. Each committee shall have not more than 10 members
   4. The Executive Committee will assist the Director in: (1) managing the day to day functioning and administration of the Centre;
      (2) administering the funds available to the Centre;
      (3) preparing the annual report of the Centre and other relevant reports;
      (4) achieving the objectives of the Center.
7. GENERAL BODY:
   There shall be a General Body of members. The General body shall comprise of general members and selected members of the committees of the Centre.
8. MEMBERSHIP
   Any person, by subscribing to the constitution of the Centre, can apply in writing to the Executive Committee to become part of the General Body. The Executive Council will decide on the application.
   
   Provided that the Executive Council must give reasons in writing in case it decides to reject any application.
9. COMMITTEES FOR THE CENTRE:
   1. There shall be four committees for the smooth functioning of the Centre, namely: Outreach Committee, Internal Affairs Committee, Research Committee and Publication Committee.
   2. The Executive Council shall select members of various committees. Experiences and other capabilities related to the functions and representation from the applicants shall be taken into account for the selection of members to each Committee. A Member can hold membership of only one Committee of the Centre.
   3. Executive Council shall provide reasons for the selection of members to each committee. Decision of the Executive Council shall be final.
   4. Each committee shall have not more than 10 members.
   5. The Executive Council shall have the power to modify the requirement and composition of committees.
   6. There shall be one coordinator in each committee from the members of the committee.
10. OBLIGATIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRE
    1. Every member of the Centre upon being admitted to membership of the Centre agrees to use his/her best endeavours:
       1. To comply with the terms of the Constitution of the Centre;
       2. To comply with the University’s rules, policies and procedures;
       3. To arrange, promote, co-ordinate and co-operate in programmes for research and otherwise in the Centre;
       4. To engage in joint research programmes carried out by members of the Centre;
    2. A member may be expelled or suspended by the Director, after consultation with the Executive Committee. The Director, if in its opinion, a member has engaged in conduct which is prejudicial to the activities of the Centre or is in breach of this Constitution, shall inquire into any misconduct involving a member, and may take appropriate disciplinary action against such member.
       
       Provided that non-performance of any responsibility delegated to a member or deliberate non-availability for the event of the Centre shall be deemed to be prejudicial to the activities of the Centre.
11. INTERNAL-AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
    1. There shall be a maximum of 10 members in the Internal-Affairs Committee.
    2. The interested members, with relevant experience, of the General Body shall apply for the membership of this Committee. The Executive Council shall select members from such applications keeping in view the aims and purpose of the Centre.
    3. The functions of the Internal-Affairs Committee are:
       a) To arrange, promote, co-ordinate and co-operate in programmes of the Centre within the University;
       b) To educate, make aware and sensitize students of the University in order to further the objectives of the Centre;
       c) To assist and collaborate with other Committees of the Centre;
       d) To perform any other function as decided in consultation with the Executive Council.
12. OUTREACH COMMITTEE
    1. There shall be a maximum of 10 members in the Outreach Committee.
    2. The interested members, with relevant experience, of the General Body shall apply for the membership of this Committee. The Executive Council shall select members from such applications keeping in view the aims and purpose of the Centre.
    3. The functions of the Outreach Committee are:
       a) To arrange, promote, co-ordinate and co-operate in programmes of the Centre outside the University;
       b) To educate, make aware and sensitize people in order to further the objectives of the Centre;
       c) To assist and collaborate with other Committees of the Centre.
       d) To liaise with NGOs, Civil Societies, Public Authorities for conducting research and undertaking projects in furtherance of the objectives of the Centre.
       e) To perform any other function as decided in consultation with the Executive Council.
13. RESEARCH COMMITTEE
    1. There shall be a maximum of 10 members in the Research Committee.
    2. The interested members, with relevant experience, of the General Body shall apply for the membership of this Committee. The Executive Council shall then select members from such applications through a procedure they deem fit.
       
       Provided that such procedure shall be notified within a reasonable time before any selection to the committee is made.
    3. The functions of the Research Committee are:
       a) To conduct quality research in furtherance of the objectives of the Centre.
       b) To assist and collaborate with other Committees of the Centre.
       c) To perform any other function as decided in consultation with the Executive Council.
14. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE:
    1. There shall be a maximum of 10 members in the Publication Committee.
    2. The interested members, with relevant experience, of the General Body shall apply for the membership of this Committee. The Executive Council shall then select members from such applications through a procedure they deem fit.
       
       Provided that such procedure shall be notified within a reasonable time before any selection to the committee is made.
    3. The functions of the Publication Committee are:
       a) To bring out quality research publications in consultation with the Research Committee in furtherance of the objectives of the Centre.
       b) To maintain a quality standard in any research material, academic or otherwise, produced or compiled by the Centre.
       c) To assist and collaborate with other Committees of the Centre.
       d) To perform any other function as decided in consultation with the Executive Council.
15. MEETINGS
    There will be at least one Annual General Meeting of all members excluding a mandatory meeting to discuss the Annual Report prior to its submission to the Chairman.
16. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
    1. Any intellectual property in material developed by the Centre will be owned by the University or as otherwise agreed to by the University in writing provided that nothing in this clause will affect the rights of staff or the University under the University’s legislation, policies or procedures relating to intellectual property.
    2. Any assets acquired under the auspices of the Centre will vest in the University.
17. AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
    Any amendment to this Constitution must be recommended by the Executive Council to the Chairman.
18. CONTRACTS
    Members of the Centre have no authority to enter into contracts which purport to bind the University unless the member is authorised to so do and has complied with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures of the University.