Members’ Rules & Code of Conduct

1 Membership Grant and Approval

• 1.1. Membership of Rashtriya Hindu Mahashakti Sangam shall be granted subject to fulfilment of the prescribed rules and eligibility criteria of the organization and approval of the concerned authority.
• 1.2. Mere submission of a membership application shall not be considered confirmation of membership.
• 1.3. The organization may accept or reject any application after necessary verification, scrutiny and evaluation.
• 1.4. While granting membership, the Constitution, objectives, discipline and organizational requirements of the organization shall be taken into consideration.

2 Accuracy and Authenticity of Application Information

• 2.1. Every applicant must provide correct, complete and truthful information in the application form.
• 2.2. If it is established that false, forged, incomplete or misleading information has been provided, the membership may be suspended or cancelled.
• 2.3. In cases of serious concealment of information or submission of false information, the organization may also decide not to accept any future application for membership.

3 Identity Verification

• 3.1. The identity of a member may be verified as required by the organization.
• 3.2. Where necessary, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card or any other valid identity document may be requested for verification.
• 3.3. Where applicable, local identity verification or other lawful verification procedures may be undertaken.
• 3.4. Personal information collected shall be used only for authorized organizational purposes and confidentiality shall be maintained as far as reasonably possible.

4 Adherence to the Constitution and Policies of the Organization

• 4.1. Every member shall comply with the Constitution, objectives, policies, authorized decisions, rules and Code of Conduct of the organization.
• 4.2. It shall be the responsibility of every member to respect authorized organizational decisions.
• 4.3. If a member disagrees with any decision, the disagreement must be communicated through the prescribed internal organizational procedure.

5 Dharma, Culture, Unity and Service

• 5.1. Members shall give importance to religious and cultural values, heritage, social responsibility, humanitarian service and organizational unity.
• 5.2. Restraint, decency, responsibility and mutual respect must be maintained in all organizational activities.
• 5.3. No member shall use the name of the organization to promote hatred, hostility or violence against any individual or community.

6 Organizational Discipline and Responsibility

• 6.1. Every member shall follow the organizational structure approved by the organization and remain within the limits of their assigned responsibilities.
• 6.2. No member shall take any decision beyond their authority or official position.
• 6.3. Deliberately creating disorder in organizational activities, obstructing approved programmes or creating divisions among members may be treated as an act of indiscipline.

7 Mutual Conduct Among Members

• 7.1. Every member shall behave respectfully with other members, office-bearers, volunteers, beneficiaries and members of the general public.
• 7.2. Abusive language, insults, threats, intimidation, harassment or deliberate humiliation of any person shall not be acceptable.
• 7.3. Personal disagreements shall not be converted into organizational disputes.

8 Use of the Organization’s Name, Logo and Identity

• 8.1. The organization's name, logo, flag, seal, letterhead, identity card, badge, digital accounts, official documents or other organizational identity materials shall not be used without authorization.
• 8.2. Using the organization's name for personal business, personal publicity, political benefit, financial benefit or any other personal interest is prohibited.
• 8.3. No member shall, without authorization, make any commitment, declaration, agreement or financial liability in the name of the organization.

9 Fundraising and Financial Discipline

• 9.1. No money, donation, subscription, membership fee, sponsorship or other contribution shall be collected in the name of the organization without written authorization or approval of the competent authority.
• 9.2. Proper accounts and records shall be maintained for every authorized amount collected in the name of the organization.
• 9.3. Personal use, misappropriation, misuse or unauthorized transfer of organizational funds shall be treated as serious misconduct.
• 9.4. If any allegation of financial irregularity is received, an investigation shall be conducted according to the prescribed organizational procedure and, where necessary, lawful action may be taken.

10 Protection of Organizational Property and Assets

• 10.1. The organization's funds, documents, computers, mobile devices, vehicles, office equipment, digital accounts, databases, banners, identity cards and other assets shall be used only for authorized organizational purposes.
• 10.2. No member shall use organizational property for personal purposes or transfer it to another person without authorization from the competent authority.
• 10.3. Upon termination of membership or office, organizational property, documents, identity cards, badges and other materials shall be returned within the prescribed period.

11 Confidentiality and Protection of Information

• 11.1. Internal meetings, documents, membership lists, contact information, financial information, organizational plans and decisions that have not been officially approved shall be kept confidential.
• 11.2. No member shall, without authorization, disclose or otherwise use members’ personal information, telephone numbers, addresses, identity-document details or other personal data.
• 11.3. Organizational passwords, login credentials, databases or digital access shall not be transferred to any other person without authorization.

12 Social Media and Digital Code of Conduct

• 12.1. Official social-media accounts of the organization shall be operated only by authorized persons.
• 12.2. No false, misleading, defamatory, provocative or reputation-damaging information shall be published using the organization's name or identity.
• 12.3. Internal discussions, screenshots, audio, video, documents or confidential communications of the organization shall not be published without authorization.
• 12.4. No member shall present a personal statement as an official statement of the organization.

13 Statements on Behalf of the Organization

• 13.1. Only an authorized spokesperson or the competent authority may make official statements on behalf of the organization through the media, television, newspapers, YouTube, social media or any other public platform.
• 13.2. Any member expressing a personal opinion must clearly identify it as their personal opinion and shall not present an unauthorized statement as the official position of the organization.

14 Political, Business and Personal Interests

• 14.1. No member shall use the organization's name, position, identity or organizational influence to obtain personal business, financial or political benefits.
• 14.2. The organization's name or position shall not be used for personal disputes, business disputes or personal interests.
• 14.3. No member shall use their organizational position to exert unethical pressure on any individual or institution.

15 Conflict of Interest

• 15.1. If a member's personal, business, financial or other interest may affect the performance of their organizational responsibilities, the matter must be disclosed to the concerned authority.
• 15.2. Using internal organizational information for personal or competing interests is prohibited.

16 Protection of Women, Children and Vulnerable Persons

• 16.1. Sexual harassment, physical or mental abuse, exploitation, unethical conduct or misconduct shall not be tolerated in any organizational activity.
• 16.2. It shall be the responsibility of every member to protect the dignity, safety and respect of women, children and vulnerable persons.
• 16.3. If a serious allegation is received, it shall be examined and necessary action shall be taken according to the prescribed organizational procedure.

17 Participation in Meetings and Organizational Activities

• 17.1. Concerned office-bearers and responsible members should regularly participate, as far as reasonably possible, in scheduled meetings, training programmes, service activities and organizational programmes.
• 17.2. If a member remains continuously absent from important organizational activities without reasonable cause, their active membership or organizational responsibilities may be reconsidered.

18 Unauthorized Creation of Committees or Positions

• 18.1. No member shall independently create any new committee, branch, unit or organizational position in the name of the organization.
• 18.2. No person shall be declared an office-bearer, appointed, granted membership or assigned organizational responsibility without authorization.
• 18.3. No new branch, district, state or other organizational unit shall be declared without a decision of the competent authority.

19 Lawful Conduct

• 19.1. Every member shall comply with the laws applicable in India and the approved policies of the organization.
• 19.2. No member shall use the organization's name to conduct illegal activities, violence, fraud, intimidation or any other criminal activity.
• 19.3. Where credible information or evidence of serious unlawful activity against a member is received, membership may be temporarily suspended or other organizational action may be taken in accordance with the applicable procedure.

20 Complaints and Investigation

• 20.1. If an allegation of violation of the rules is made against a member, the organization may conduct a preliminary verification or investigation as necessary.
• 20.2. In cases involving serious allegations, the concerned member may be given an opportunity to show cause.
• 20.3. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the allegation, an organizational responsibility or benefit may be temporarily suspended during the investigation.

21 Disciplinary Measures

Depending upon the nature, seriousness and circumstances of the violation, one or more of the following measures may be taken:

22 Suspension or Cancellation of Membership

Membership may be suspended or cancelled, following the prescribed organizational procedure, in circumstances including:

• Serious violation of the organization's Constitution or rules;
• Submission of false or forged information;
• Misuse of organizational funds or assets;
• Misuse of the organization's name or identity;
• Unauthorized disclosure of serious confidential information;
• Financial irregularities;
• Serious misconduct or indiscipline;
• Deliberately causing serious damage to organizational activities;
• Credible information or evidence of involvement in unlawful activities;
• Activities likely to seriously damage the security, integrity or reputation of the organization.

23 Show-Cause and Opportunity to Defend

• 23.1. Before taking serious disciplinary action, the concerned member may, depending upon the circumstances and applicable rules, be informed of the allegations and given an opportunity to submit a written explanation.
• 23.2. In emergency situations, interim measures may be taken to protect the interests and security of the organization; thereafter, the prescribed procedure shall be followed.

24 Right to Appeal

• 24.1. A member aggrieved by a decision to suspend membership, remove them from office or cancel membership may submit a written appeal to the organization's designated appellate authority within the prescribed period.
• 24.2. The appeal procedure, time limit and competent authority shall be determined by the Constitution or separate disciplinary procedure of the organization.

25 Identity Cards and Organizational Materials

• 25.1. The organization's ID Cards, Badges, Certificates, Letterheads, Seals and other official materials shall be considered the property of the organization.
• 25.2. Upon cancellation of membership, resignation or termination of organizational responsibility, such materials shall be returned as directed by the organization.
• 25.3. After termination of membership, no person shall use the organization's name or identity to represent themselves as a current member or office-bearer of the organization.

26 Resignation

• 26.1. Any member wishing to voluntarily resign from membership may submit a written resignation in the prescribed manner.
• 26.2. After resignation, no organizational property, documents, identity cards or confidential information may be retained by the former member.
• 26.3. Resignation shall not prevent the organization from conducting any necessary investigation or taking appropriate action regarding serious irregularities or financial liabilities arising from acts committed previously.

27 Protection of the Organization’s Reputation and Integrity

It shall be the responsibility of every member to:

• Protect the dignity and credibility of the organization;
• Maintain organizational unity;
• Protect organizational assets and information;
• Inform the appropriate authority about serious irregularities, financial corruption or unauthorized activities;
• Not damage the reputation of the organization through their conduct.

28 Amendment of the Rules

In accordance with the Constitution and approved organizational procedures, any provision of these Rules may be amended, supplemented or modified as required.