Executive Committee (EC)
Q UALIFICATION
1. Members of the EC shall be Amritdhari Sikhs with education equivalent to a degree from a recognized university.
Disqualification for Membership
2 No person shall be entitled to become or continue as a member of the ISC if he or she :
a) has been convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude;
b) has been declared by a competent authority to be insane or insolvent;
c) is considered by the EC not a fit person to become, or continue to be a member of the ISC for any reason whatsoever;
d) fails to pay the prescribed membership fee.
C ONSTITUTION O F (EC )
3 Will consist of 25 members. Constitution of this committee will initially be as follows:
a) Institutional Representatives 12
b) Individuals 08
c) Heads of Advisory Councils 05
Total 25
(All of the members of EC should be amritdhari Sikhs)
4 A Presidium of Five EC members elected / nominated by the GC will chair the meetings of the GC and EC collectively. It will also supervise the day to day functioning of the CEO / Secretariat. Chairmanship within the Presidium will be rotated monthly.
Presidium
5 The Presidium will consist of five (5) members duly selected/elected from within the EC each year. One of them will be designated as the Secretary General. He will be authorized to sign correspondence and ensure proper functioning of the ISC, including signing of documents authorized by the Presidium. After one year a new Presidium will be selected/elected from within the EC. No member is eligible for a second tenure within a two year term of the EC.
6 A Secretariat headed by a CEO will function under the direct control of the Presidium. It is desirable that the CEO be a highly experienced and an outstanding administrator, who is well versed in Sikh religion and its affairs. He should preferably be based permanently at ISC Headquarters to devote full time to his duties. His tenure may be for four years with a maximum of one extension of four years.
7 The CEO will function directly under the Presidium that may delegate special powers to him from time to time.
8 Remuneration to be paid to employees of the ISC Secretariat including the CEO will be decided by the EC with final approval of the GC at its bi-annual meeting or special meeting. Until a GC is in place the decision will be taken by the Interim Executive Committee along with sustainable budget.
Election to the Executive Committee
8. Election to the EC will be as follows:
a) By consensus / election in the GC meeting held every 2 years in India .
b) For continuity, only 10 members (six from institutions and four individuals) will be newly elected every 2 years.
c) Heads of Advisory Councils will be nominated by the EC. Suitable Bye-laws in this regard will be framed by the Presidium in consultation with the Advisory Council concerned.
9. All representatives of the Institutions will serve full tenure at the discretion of their Parent Body which will be at liberty to withdraw/ replace their nominees after one year.
10 No mid-term election to the EC will be held by the ISC for vacancies created by resignation or withdrawal due to any reason whatsoever. Vacancies may be filled by the EC with the approval of the GC for the remaining term.
Functions of the Executive Committee
11 The EC shall exercise full powers and perform all such functions, as authorised by the GC. Bye-laws in this regard will be formulated by the EC and got approved by the GC. Any further revision/addition to the bye-laws will need the express approval of the GC by two thirds majority of the members present and voting, in a meeting called with a notice of three months or more in advance and with agenda duly notified.
Office Bearers
12 The EC will be solely responsible for running the affairs of the ISC. As already stated, a Presidium of five members will perform these functions collectively. The Presidium will preside over the meetings of the EC & GC.
13 The EC shall organise a Secretariat. They shall frame bye-laws in this regard and appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to assist them. This organisation is expected to be evolved over time with the required office staff to assist them and to implement decisions of the Presidium / EC.
Tenure of Members of the Executive Committee
14 As already stated in para 34 (b), the tenure of the EC members will be four years. However, 10 elected members of the first GC will perforce have a two-year tenure. Decision in this regard will be taken by the EC by consensus or by drawing lots.
15 Advisory Council Heads will have a fixed tenure of four years. Anyone nominated in place of a member between elections will have a truncated tenure, i.e., remaining period. All members will of necessity be primary members of the ISC.
Limit on tenures in GC and EC
16 A member may serve in the GC and EC of the ISC for not more than two tenures.
Advisory Councils (AC)
17 The main aim of an AC forming part of the ISC constitution is to aid decision making. Each Council will consist of a Head, and upto ten members (total 11). As already stated in para 34 (c) Heads of ACs will be nominated by the EC. They will be highly qualified and experienced individuals Remaining members of the AC will be selected by the Presidium in consultation with the Head who is already nominated.
18 The GC in its bi-annual meeting will decide upon the number of ACs to be formed. Initially these will be five in number; one each for Religious Affairs; Education and Social Affairs; Economic Affairs; Press, Publication and IT; and lastly International and Legal Affairs. Members will be experts in their respective disciplines and eligible to be members of the ISC.
19 Heads of Councils may employ professionals as and when required, for specific projects and for sanctioned durations, with the express permission of the EC. These professionals may not necessarily be members of the ISC.
• Bye-laws for these Councils will be framed by the Secretary General in consultation with the AC Chairman concerned and approved by the EC.
• While acceptance of the advice rendered by ACs is not obligatory, all major decisions of the ISC will ordinarily be based on the advice rendered by the AC(s) concerned.
Notice for Meetings
• For GC meetings not less than three months notice shall be given from the time of dispatch of the last letter.
• For EC meetings not less than 15 days notice shall be given from the time of dispatch of the last letter. Emergency meeting, may, however, be called at short notice by the Presidium.
24 All such notices will be issued by the CEO under direction of the Presidium.
Disputes and Differences
25 Any controversial issues referred to the EC or taken up suo moto shall be discussed by the EC, which may obtain the advice of the concerned AC(s) and resolve the issue(s). However all sensitive issues will be placed before the GC for ratification.
Amendments to the Constitution
26 Any amendment to the Constitution which is proposed under signatures of at least 10% primary / life members of ISC may be circulated to members of the EC. While discussing the proposal for amendment to the Constitution in the EC, full opportunity will be granted formally to the members submitting the proposal to put forth their views.
27 The EC will thereafter submit its own recommendations independently to the GC who may then refer it to the General Body for a final decision. It may then be passed by 2/3 majority of the members present.
Audit
28 All accounts of the ISC will be audited quarterly by registered auditors. The Executive Committee will propose and obtain approval of the Governing Council (GC) to appoint auditors every 2 years. Annual Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statement will be approved by the GC.
Elections to Governing Council and Executive Committee
29 Elections to the GC and EC will be organized and announced centrally by the Election Commission. However voting for elections to the GC will take place in respective Regions / Zones and locations as per the directions of the Election Commission and its representatives in various locations. Number of seats allotted to each region has been laid down in the Constitution.
30 Elections to the EC will however be held centrally during the meeting of the GC every two years. Members of the GC who cannot attend due to exigencies may be allowed to vote by postal ballot with the advance permission granted by the Central Election Commission.
Decision Making
31. All policy decisions will be approved by the Central GC/ Central EC as laid down in the Constitution. Zones / Regions may recommend changes where warranted to the HQ ISC for consideration in meetings of the GC and EC. Constant communication will be maintained by all regions with HQ ISC through the CEO.
