26        FORMATION OF BRANCHES

(i)         A minimum of ten persons who are eligible to be members of the Association as per Rule 12 and who reside, practice or are employed in a place or its neighborhood may form themselves into a Local Branch of the Association by a resolution passed at a General Body Meeting of such person convened for the purpose. The resolution with the names of the office bearers of the new Branch, the signed M.A. forms, Branches formation fee of Rs.50/- and HFC as per Bye-laws shall be sent to the State or Territorial Branch if one exists or directly to the Headquarters. The Territorial or State Branch shall consider the resolution and forward its recommendations along with the copy of the resolution, the name of the office bearers, the M.A. forms and the Headquarters quota of Branch formation fee and HFC to the Headquarters for final approval of the Branch by the Working Committee, at its next meeting. The Branch formation fee shall be shared equally between the State Branch and 1MA Headquarters.

(ii)        Local Branches shall submit to the Headquarters and Journal Office through the State or Territorial Branch, where one exists, an annual return of the members on their rolls by the 30th April each year, together with a list of defaulters, a list of new members and a list of members who have left the Branches with their new addresses if available, along with a report of the activities of the Branches.

(iii)       Four sets of computerised addressograph list shall be sent by Journal Office at the end of every Association year to all State/Territorial branches for onward supply of two sets to all Local Branches under their State/Territorial Branch. Local Branch shall make necessary corrections in the list with additions, deletions and change of addresses, if any, in both the copies. One copy of the corrected list shall be sent to the State/Territorial Branch Office retaining one copy for its office record. The State/ Territorial Branch shall correct the two copies already in its possession and send one copy to Headquarters and one copy to Journal office for mailing of Journal to the members for the next Association Year. A statement of membership strength of the Branches shall be supplied along with the corrected list. The corrected addressograph list shall be sent to the Journal Office within a month of its receipt.

26.       Revival of suspended Branches:

A Direct or a Local Branch suspended under Rule 43 (A) shall be revived by Headquarters on payment of a revival fee of Rs. 100/- and on payment of arrears of HFC in full and/or on submission of valid list for the half year concerned. Such revival shall be reported to the next meeting of the working Committee. The revival fee shall be distributed equally between the State/Territorial Branch and Headquarters.

27.       State/Territorial Branches:

A        All  Local Branches in a State or a Union Territory shall combine and form themselves into a State or a Territorial Branch and office bearers of the State/Territorial Branch. The formation of such a State/Territorial Branch shall be communicated to the Headquarters for its approval.

B        Local Branches subsequently recognised by the Working Committee in the jurisdiction of a State or Territorial Branch shall become constituent members of such a State or Territorial Branch.