The Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920

What the Act governs

The Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920 establishes the Indian Red Cross Society as a corporate body with perpetual succession and a common seal. The Society may acquire and hold movable and immovable property, and may sue or be sued in its own name.

The legislation was intended to continue, during peacetime and on a wider basis, the medical and other relief work carried out during the war by the Joint War Committee, Indian Branch, of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England and the British Red Cross Society.

Management and oversight

The Indian Red Cross Society is governed through a Managing Body. Key provisions include:

• The President of India is the President of the Society.
• The Managing Body has a Chairman and six members nominated by the President, together with twelve members elected by State Branch Committees.
• A State Branch Committee may elect no more than one member.
• An elected member may not hold office continuously for more than two terms.
• The Managing Body appoints the Secretary-General and Treasurer with the previous approval of the President.
• The Chairman has specified financial, meeting and disciplinary functions. The Vice-Chairman may perform the Chairman's functions during the Chairman's absence and serves on committees and subcommittees appointed by the Managing Body.

The President may supersede the Managing Body for up to six months for gross management failure or conduct prejudicial to the Society's objectives. The Managing Body must first receive a reasonable opportunity to respond. A further period of up to six months may be granted on recommendation, and the President may reconstitute the Managing Body earlier.

Rules, property and liabilities

The Managing Body may make rules, with the previous approval of the President, covering membership, elections, committees, oversight of State Branch Committees, delegated powers, disqualifications, officers and procedures. The Central Government must place these rules before both Houses of Parliament for thirty days, allowing Parliament to modify or annul them without invalidating earlier actions.

When the Society's first members and Managing Body were appointed, the Joint War Committee was dissolved. Its movable and immovable property vested in the Indian Red Cross Society, while its debts and liabilities transferred to the Society.

Relevance to property owners and buyers

The Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920 does not create general land ownership, planning or registration requirements for private buyers. Its property provisions concern the Indian Red Cross Society's legal power to acquire and hold property and the transfer of the former Joint War Committee's property to the Society.