Article for The Guild of Unani-Tibb

Article 1. NAME

The name of the organisation shall be The Guild of Unani-Tibb (previously known as The International Association of Natural Medicine).


  1. To promote and enhance the practice, research and development of Natural Medicine (Unani-Tibb).
  2. To cooperate with any individual or organisation with similar aims and objectives.


  1. Any person over the age of 18 years shall be entitled to apply for membership. The grant of membership shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee on the payment of the prescribed fee and after submission of an authorised membership application form.
  2. The Executive Committee of the Guild may confer honorary membership upon any individual who in their view has or can help in promoting the aims and objectives of the Guild.
  3. The Executive Committee may also invite patrons for the Guild.


  1. All members have a right to attend general meetings and discuss the agenda circulated and to vote thereon and shall be eligible for election as office bearers of the Executive Committee provided he/she is registered as a full member.
  2. If one third of the total valid membership submits in writing to the Secretary, a complaint against any individual of the Executive Committee, the Secretary has to place that application before the full Executive Committee for consideration.
  3. In the case of the Executive Committee being unable to resolve the issue, the Secretary has to place the said application before the next General Assembly where the approval of 2/3 of the valid membership of the Guild the decision shall be arrived at.
  4. If 2/3 of the valid membership passes a vote of no confidence against a member of the Executive Committee, the said member shall resign immediately. Where upon the General Assembly shall elect a new member of the Executive Committee and the procedure laid down in Article 13 shall be followed here.


  1. The annual subscription for membership shall be fixed appropriately by the General Assembly as and when necessary.
  2. Members not paying renewal fees within three months of the beginning of the financial year (1st January to 31st December) will lose all rights of membership, including voting rights.


  1. The General Assembly upon recommendation of the Executive Committee can terminate the membership of any member if it is proved that he/she is directly involved against the interests of the Guild.
  2. The impugned member shall have a right of hearing before the General Assembly prior to any final decisions.
  3. A simple majority of the valid membership of the General Assembly shall constitute a quorum and 2/3 of the members present must vote in favour of such action.
  4. The member whose membership is terminated has no right to claim membership fee, annual subscription, donation and any other facilities upon the termination of his/her membership.


  1. The General Assembly shall consist of members of the Guild with valid membership and shall have a right to vote at such meetings.
  2. The General Assembly shall meet at least every 12 months as arranged by the Executive Committee.
  3. The election of the Executive Committee shall take place every 3 years at the AGM. The election shall be conducted by an Election Commission nominated by the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall prepare the ballot paper, a list of valid members and give them to the Election Commissioner.
  4. Statement of accounts and reports shall be presented and approved by a 2/3 majority of the General Assembly.
  5. Any other business can be transacted in the meeting if the Executive Committee considers it to be of general importance and interest to the Guild.
  6. Any proposal concerning amendments to the constitution shall automatically form part of the agenda provided other formalities as here-in after stated have been complied with.
  7. Any member whose annual subscriptions are in arrears shall have no right to vote or exercise other membership rights.
  8. A list of members of the General Assembly shall be prepared and kept by the General Secretary which shall include their addresses and credentials.
  9. Quorum of the General Assembly shall be 51% of the members present.


  1. The Executive Committee may call an extraordinary general meeting whenever it deems necessary.
  2. The Secretary shall call an extraordinary general meeting if he/she receives a request signed by 1/3 of the total membership of the Guild.
  3. At least one calendar month notice shall be given to the members and notices must be posted within ten days from the receipt of the petition.
  4. The President of the Guild shall preside over such meetings. In case of the President not being available, the Secretary shall nominate a Chairman for such a meeting.
  5. Quorum shall be 51% of the members.


  1. The business of the meeting shall be transacted in the form of a resolution.
  2. A resolution shall have to be moved by one member and seconded by another.
  3. The mover of the resolution shall have the right to state its purpose, aims and other relevant aspects. The President shall then call upon speakers for and against the motion to speak, maintaining a proper balance between the sides.
  4. The President shall have the duty of confining the discussion only to the issue of the motion and see it that no irrelevant matter is introduced in the discussion.
  5. The President shall be responsible for the proper and orderly conduct of the proceedings.
  6. The decision at the meeting, except where otherwise provided, shall be arrived at by a 2/3 of the members voting.
  7. Minutes of the proceedings at the meeting shall be recorded and presented at the next meeting by the General Secretary for verification.

Article 10. MANAGEMENT

  1. The management of the Guild shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee, duration of which shall be 3 years.
  2. The Executive Committee may issue standing orders of rules to regulate or conduct any of the Guild's activities or projects: such standing orders or rules come into operation immediately, provided that they shall be subject to review by the annual or extraordinary General Meeting and shall not be inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the Guild.
  3. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once in 6 months with written notice of at least 2 weeks to every member. Emergency meetings can be called by the President or the General Secretary of not less than 3 members of the Executive Committee by not less than 48 hours notice by written or other means of communication to each member.
  4. If any Executive Committee member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings without a good reason, the Executive Committee may pass a resolution for his/her removal from office.
  5. The Executive Committee shall form Sub-Committees as the necessity arises from among members of the Executive Committee and the members of the Guild.
  6. For the orderly conduct of the Sub-Committee of the Guild, rules and procedures shall be formed in the light of the Constitution and experience.
  7. The Executive Committee shall be authorised to co-opt any individual on any of the Sub-Committees.
  8. The decision in the Executive Committee shall be based on the principal of a simple majority and 51% of the total membership of the Executive Committee shall form a quorum.
  9. The following shall be office bearers elected by the General Assembly:

a. President

b. Vice President

c. Secretary

d. Joint Secretary

e. Treasurer

f. Six members of the Executive Committee


(a) President

  1. The President shall be the Chairman of all meetings. Be these Executive Committee meetings as well as the General Assembly meetings or any other Sub-Committee meetings. He/she shall also be able to delegate this responsibility to any other member of the Guild.
  2. He/she shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the General Assembly of the Executive Committee meetings.
  3. It shall be his/her duty to see that the proceedings are conducted in an orderly manner and within the rules of the Guild.
  4. He/she shall be responsible for the general conduct of the Guild.

(b) Vice President

  1. He/she shall deputise for the President whenever the President is unable to attend a meeting.

(c) Secretary

  1. The general administration shall be in the hands of the Secretary.
  2. All communications and correspondence for which he/she will be responsible and for the proper functioning of the Guild.
  3. He/she shall be able to delegate his responsibilities to any member of the Executive Committee or a member of the Guild.

(d) Joint Secretary

  1. His/her main function shall be to assist the Secretary in the general administration of the Guild and take over all responsibilities in the event of the Secretary not being available due to illness or absence.

(e) Treasurer

He/she shall be responsible for:

  1. All the funds and other movable assets of the Guild.
  2. Keeping proper accounts
  3. Maintaining property
  4. Collecting dues
  5. Notifying defaulters
  6. Ensuring no unnecessary expenditure is incurred
  7. Devising means and methods to raise funds for the Guild
  8. Ensuring duly signed receipts are given to all the subscribers
  9. Ensuring statements of accounts are prepared periodically for the perusal of the Executive Committee
  10. Ensuring statement of accounts are prepared for presentation at the AGM.
  11. Appointing an auditor in prior consultation with the Executive Committee.

Article 12. ELECTION

  1. The election shall be held every 3 years by a secret ballot to elect the Executive Committee, including office bearers.
  2. A candidate contesting an election to become an office bearer shall have to satisfy the following conditions:

(a) He/she shall be over the age of 18 on the day of the election.

(b) He/she shall be a person of sound mind and character.

3.  In the case of any post of the Executive Committee becoming vacant, the Executive Committee shall fill the position temporarily and arrange for an election to that position within 6 months.


  1. The Executive Committee shall appoint an election Commissioner for the purpose of conducting an election.
  2. The Election Commissioner shall have the power, subject to its constitution, to make rules for the proper conduct of the election.
  3. The declaration of the election result by the election commissioner shall be binding and final.
  4. He/she shall not take part in contesting any post or cast a vote for any posts of the Executive Committee.


1. The financial resources of the Guild shall be derived from:

a. Annual subscriptions from members in the form of a membership fee.
b. Gifts, donations and legacies.
c. The holdings of social events or gatherings.
d. Other activities the Executive Committee may deem necessary.
e. Income derived from the investment of surplus funds.
2. Money shall be kept in banks except that a certain sum, as decided by the Executive Committee, may be left with the Treasurer to meet day to day expenditure.
3. All expenditure and withdrawal of money shall be on the authorisation of the Executive Committee. The cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President.
4. The financial years of the Guild shall begin from the 1st of April and will end on the 31st of March.

Article 15. AMENDMENTS

  1. Amendments to the constitution can be made only at the General Assembly meeting so long as the amendments do not alter the charitable status of the Guild.
  2. Amendments shall be considered by the General Assembly when submitted to the General Secretary by writing, signed by at least 1/3 of its members.
  3. Amendments shall be submitted to the General Secretary in writing at least 2 months before the regular meeting of the General Assembly. He/she shall send a copy of such proposed amendments to all members of the General Assembly within 1 month of the receipt of such written petition.
  4. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to submit any amendments to the General Assembly, provided 1 months notice is given in writing to all members.
  5. For any amendments 75% of the valid membership of the General Assembly shall constitute a quorum and 2/3 of the members present must vote in favour of such an action.


  1. The power to dissolve the Guild rests with the General Assembly, provided 75% of the valid membership of the Guild agrees with such a decision.
  2. The assets of the Guild on dissolution shall be disposed after payments of its debts and liabilities to a charitable organisation of similar aims and objectives by the charity commission in the manner as the members of the Guild may demand.