BRANCHES
4.The members of the Association shall, whenever possible, group themselves into separate local bodies styled as Local branches.
5.Each Local Branch shall have a local area for its jurisdiction and operations to be finally approved by the Working Committee of the Association on the recommendation of the concerned State/Territorial Branch of that area where the State/Territorial Branch exist as per the Bye-laws.
5-ANo two Local Branches shall have overlapping jurisdiction and operations in the same area.
Overseas Branches:
5-BThe Overseas Members of the Association may, wherever possible, group themselves into a separate Local body to be named as Overseas Branch of the Association for a Local area in a foreign country as may be determined by the Working Committee of the Association.
6.(1) There shall be a State/Territorial Branch of Association for each State/Union Territory in India which shall have jurisdiction over all Local Branches of the Association within its area provided that where in a State/Union Territory there is only one Local Branch and its membership strength exceeds 100, the same shall be treated as State/Territorial Branch and shall perform the functions of a State/Territorial Branch accordingly.
6.(2) Once a Branch on getting its membership above 100 is treated as a State/Territorial Branch, it shall not have the status of a Local Branch, provided further that all existing State/Territorial Branches shall have jurisdiction over the Local Branches of Association within their respective jurisdiction.
Explanation: For the exercise of jurisdiction over the respective area of State/Territorial Branch, it shall not be necessary that any particular Local/Direct branch was or was not in existence or whether the said local or State/Territorial branch did or did not take part in the formation of the State/Territorial Branch within whose area the said Local/Direct Branch exists.
7.Wherever there is no State/Territorial branch, a branch below 100 member will be considered as a direct Local Branch and will be attached to the Headquarters Office.
Disciplinary Control Over Branches:
7-A All Branches of the Association namely State/Territorial, Local, Direct Branches and Overseas Branches hall be under the overall control of the Headquarters and governed by Rules and Bye-laws of IMA Headquarters as amended from time to time. Those of the Branches which are individually registered under the Societies Registration Act or under any other Act shall also come under the over all discipline and control of the Headquarters and abide by its Rules & Bye-laws as amended from time to time. (Effective from 30.12.95)
Rules and Bye-laws of Local Branches:
8. (i) There shall be a model set of Rules and Bye-laws to act as guidelines for Local and State Branches approved by the Working Committee. A Local and State Branch shall, however, be free to govern itself in such manner as it shall think fit and for that purpose to make from time to time Rules and Bye-laws as it may think fit and to repeal or alter the same as and when it may consider it expedient. The Rules and Bye-laws so made and for the time being in force, shall be binding on the members constituting the Branch in reference to which they are made: provided that such Rules and Bye-laws are in general conformity with the Rules and Bye -laws of the Association and have been approved by the Honorary Secretary General, subject to subsequent ratification by the Working Committee.
(ii) A local Branch after formation shall send its set of Rules and Bye-laws to the Headquarters office with copy to the State/Territorial Branch Office. The State/Territorial Branch shall forward its comments, if any, to the Headquarters office within 4 weeks from date of receipt. The State/Territorial Branch shall however have no powers to approve or modify the same.
(iii) Till such time the Constitution Rules and Bye-laws of a newly formed branch or those of existing branches, who do not have constitution of their own at present including all amendments/additions etc. are ratified by the Working Committee, the model set of Rules/Bye-laws as prescribed by the Working Committee shall only be operative.
(iv) The Rules and Bye-Laws of the Indian Medical Association shall apply in any matter if not covered by Rules Bye-laws of the State/Territorial or Local Branch already ratified by the Working Committee of Association.
Jurisdiction of State/Territotial Branches:
9. All Local Branches within the jurisdiction of a State or Territorial Branch shall be guided by the latter in all matters subject to the Rules and Bye-laws of the Association.
10. Local Branches within the jurisdiction of a State or Territorial Branch shall refer all matters concerning the State and Central Governments to the State or Territorial Branches for final decisions in such matters. State/Territorial Branches shall likewise refer all matters concerning the Government of India or India as a whole or outside India to the Headquarters for necessary action.
11. The Association shall not be liable for any of the debts or liabilities of any of its Branches nor shall any of its Branches be liable for any of the debts and liabilities of the Association.
Eligibility of Membership:
12. Any person registered with a Medical Council of India on the basis of his/her medical qualification as defined in the Indian Medical Degrees Act 1916(Act VII of l916) and included in the schedules to the Indian Medical Council Act as amended from time to time shall be eligible for life membership.
However all interns having temporary registration, will be eligible to become members of the Indian Medical Association as defined in Rule 13(I).