Rules & Regulations

Fundamental provisions governing the establishment, registration, and legal standing of the Dam Safety Society.

• 1.1The Society established under these Rules and Regulations shall be known as the "Dam Safety Society" (hereinafter referred to as "the Society" or "DSS").
• 1.2The Society is registered at New Delhi under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 and is a not-for-profit professional organisation.
• 1.3The Registered Office of the Society shall be situated in New Delhi. The Governing Council may change the address of the Registered Office within the same city by resolution, with intimation to the Registrar of Societies.
• 1.4The income and property of the Society, however derived, shall be applied solely for the promotion of the objects set forth in the Memorandum of Association.
• 1.5No portion of the income and/or property of the Society shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to persons who at any time are or have been members of the Society or to any one or more of them or to any persons claiming through any one or more of them.
• 1.6Nothing in Rule 1.5 shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable remuneration, honoraria, perquisites, out-of-pocket expenses, interest on money lent to the Society, or facilities of any nature as the Governing Council deems fit in return for services rendered to the Society.

The principal aims, objectives, and purposes for which the Dam Safety Society has been established.

• 2.1To cover all the scientific, technological and managerial aspects of dam safety and to provide a forum to deliberate on the unique challenges posed by existing dams for evolving unique solutions in order to ensure their safety.
• 2.2To work for empowerment of professionals, dam safety organisations, dam owners and to discuss and deliberate the issues of mutual concern about the safety and integrity of dams, appurtenant works and distribution networks for sustainable benefits of dams and levees for safe communities.
• 2.3To foster the generation of a common knowledge base utilisable by professionals in the field of dam safety through publications, seminars, workshops, conferences, and technical bulletins.
• 2.4To organise and conduct training programmes, workshops, seminars, and conferences related to dam safety engineering, inspection, monitoring, rehabilitation, and emergency preparedness.
• 2.5To promote awareness about dam safety among all stakeholders — including engineers, policymakers, dam owners, operators, and the general public — so as to prevent dam-related disasters and ensure downstream community safety.
• 2.6To collaborate with national and international organisations, government bodies, academic institutions, and research establishments engaged in dam safety and water infrastructure.
• 2.7To publish a journal, newsletters, technical reports, and guidelines on subjects relating to dam safety and related disciplines.
• 2.8To establish, give, award or provide scholarships, prizes, medals, and other awards in furtherance of the objectives of the Society.

Categories of membership, eligibility criteria, admission procedure, annual subscription, and rights of members.

• 3.1The Society shall have the following categories of membership: (a) Patron Member; (b) Life Member; (c) Annual Member; (d) Institutional Member; (e) Student Member.
• 3.2Patron Members shall be individuals or organisations making an outstanding financial contribution to the Society as determined by the Governing Council. The Governing Council may also nominate distinguished persons as Patron Members.
• 3.3Life Membership shall be open to any person who has paid the Life Membership subscription in a single payment as prescribed by the Governing Council from time to time.
• 3.4Annual Members shall pay the prescribed annual subscription. Membership shall be renewed by payment of the due subscription before 31st March of each year.
• 3.5Institutional Membership shall be open to government bodies, research institutions, universities, public sector undertakings, and private firms engaged in dam-related activities, upon payment of the prescribed institutional subscription.
• 3.6Student Members shall be full-time students enrolled in a recognised engineering or science programme at an accredited institution. Student membership confers no voting rights and shall lapse upon graduation.
• 3.7All applications for membership shall be submitted in the prescribed form, accompanied by the requisite subscription, and shall be subject to approval by the Governing Council or a Committee authorised by it.
• 3.8A member whose annual subscription is in arrears for more than six months shall be liable to be struck off the Register of Members by resolution of the Governing Council, after a notice of not less than one month is given to the member.
• 3.9Any member may resign from the Society by giving one month's written notice to the Secretary General. Subscriptions already paid shall not be refunded on resignation.
• 3.10Membership may be suspended or terminated by the Governing Council for conduct unbecoming a professional or for violation of these Bye-Laws or the Code of Conduct, after giving the member a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

Composition, election procedure, tenure, powers, and responsibilities of the Society's Governing Council.

• 4.1The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Governing Council consisting of: (a) President; (b) Vice Presidents (not more than three); (c) Secretary General; (d) Treasurer; (e) Elected Members (not more than ten from the general body of members).
• 4.2Members of the Governing Council shall be elected by the general body of the Society at the Annual General Meeting by a simple majority of votes cast.
• 4.3The term of office of all elected members of the Governing Council shall be three years. No office bearer shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.
• 4.4Vacancies occurring in the Governing Council between elections may be filled by co-option by the remaining members of the Governing Council until the next Annual General Meeting.
• 4.5The Governing Council shall meet at least twice in a year. The quorum for a Governing Council meeting shall be one-third of its total strength or five members, whichever is higher.
• 4.6The Governing Council shall have the power to appoint sub-committees, technical committees, and working groups as it deems necessary and to delegate appropriate powers to them.
• 4.7The Governing Council shall be responsible for the financial management, programme activities, and strategic direction of the Society, subject to the overall control of the General Body.
• 4.8A member of the Governing Council who remains absent from three consecutive meetings without leave of absence shall be deemed to have vacated their seat.

Provisions for Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings, notice requirements, quorum, and voting procedures.

• 5.1The Society shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of its members once in every calendar year, within six months of the close of the financial year, at such time and place as the Governing Council may decide.
• 5.2The business at the AGM shall include: (a) adoption of the Annual Report; (b) adoption of the audited accounts; (c) election of Governing Council members as required; (d) appointment of Auditors; (e) any other business with the permission of the Chair.
• 5.3Notice of an AGM shall be given to all members at least 21 days before the date of the meeting, together with the agenda, annual report, and audited accounts.
• 5.4A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be convened by the President on the direction of the Governing Council or upon a requisition signed by not less than one-fifth of the total membership of the Society.
• 5.5The quorum for an Annual or Special General Meeting shall be one-tenth of the total membership or thirty members, whichever is less, present in person.
• 5.6If a quorum is not present within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place, when those present shall constitute quorum.
• 5.7All decisions at General Meetings shall be made by a simple majority of votes cast, except where these Bye-Laws specifically require a special majority.
• 5.8Voting shall normally be by show of hands, but a poll may be demanded by any five members present before or upon the declaration of the result.

Management of Society funds, maintenance of accounts, investment policies, financial year, and statutory audit requirements.

• 6.1The financial year of the Society shall be from the 1st day of April to the 31st day of March of the following year.
• 6.2All funds of the Society shall be deposited in a Scheduled Bank or Banks in the name of the Society, as approved by the Governing Council.
• 6.3All cheques, drafts, and withdrawal instructions on behalf of the Society shall be signed jointly by the Secretary General and the Treasurer, or by such other office bearers as the Governing Council may authorise.
• 6.4The Governing Council may invest the surplus funds of the Society in such manner as it deems fit, provided that no investment shall be made in speculative instruments or for commercial profit contrary to the objects of the Society.
• 6.5The accounts of the Society shall be maintained in such form and manner as the Governing Council may direct and shall be audited annually by a Chartered Accountant appointed at each Annual General Meeting.
• 6.6The audited accounts together with the annual report shall be placed before the Annual General Meeting and shall thereafter be filed with the Registrar of Societies as required by law.
• 6.7No expenditure exceeding such sum as the Governing Council may from time to time fix shall be incurred without the prior approval of the Governing Council.

Code of professional conduct, ethical obligations, declaration of conflicts, and disciplinary procedures for members.

• 7.1Every member of the Society shall conduct themselves with integrity, objectivity, and respect for all professional colleagues, and shall uphold the dignity and reputation of the Dam Safety Society at all times.
• 7.2Members shall not use the name, logo, or membership status of the Society to endorse commercial products, services, or political positions without the prior written consent of the Governing Council.
• 7.3Members shall not misrepresent their qualifications, technical credentials, certifications, or the scope of their professional experience in any context.
• 7.4Any conflict of interest in technical committee work, peer review, or award decisions must be declared promptly. Members with a declared conflict shall recuse themselves from the relevant proceedings.
• 7.5The Society maintains a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, bullying, or intimidation at any Society event, meeting, or platform, whether physical or digital.
• 7.6Members who observe unethical conduct by a fellow member are encouraged to report it in writing to the Secretary General. The matter shall be referred to an Ethics Sub-Committee appointed by the Governing Council.
• 7.7The Ethics Sub-Committee shall investigate the complaint and present its findings to the Governing Council, which shall have the power to issue a warning, suspend, or expel the member. The decision of the Governing Council shall be final.
• 7.8A member against whom disciplinary action is proposed shall be given not less than 30 days' written notice and a reasonable opportunity to present a defence before any action is taken.

Procedure for amending these Bye-Laws and provisions governing the dissolution of the Society.

• 8.1These Bye-Laws may be altered, amended, or rescinded at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, provided that notice of the proposed change has been circulated to all members at least 21 days before the meeting.
• 8.2Any proposed amendment to the Bye-Laws shall be approved by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting at such Special General Meeting.
• 8.3Every amendment to the Bye-Laws shall come into effect only upon registration of the amendment with the Registrar of Societies, New Delhi, as required by the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• 8.4The Society shall not be dissolved except by a resolution passed by a three-fourths majority at a Special General Meeting convened specifically for this purpose, with at least one month's notice to all members.
• 8.5In the event of dissolution, after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, the remaining assets of the Society shall not be distributed among the members but shall be transferred to another institution having similar objects, to be determined by the final General Meeting, in accordance with the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• 8.6The Governing Council shall file a return of every amendment to the Bye-Laws with the Registrar of Societies within one month of such amendment being passed.