Student Union of Bhutan

CONSTITUTION OF STUDENTS UNION OF BHUTAN

Formed on March 23, 1988

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS; the incessant violation of fundamental rights of individuals by the Royal Government of Bhutan raised the consciousness of the student body in Bhutan caused the creation of an Union on March 23, 1988 at the Sherubtse College in Kanglung, Tashigang.

HEREAS; the Union upholds and reaffirms its faith in the respect of fundamental Human Rights in the Dignity and worth of the Human Person and in the equal rights of men and women regardless of ethnicity, caste or creed as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

WHEREAS; disregard and contempt for Human Rights have resulted in barbarous acts by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

WHEREAS; the Royal Government of Bhutan continues, inter-alia, to show utter disregard and contempt for article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with regard to the Right to Education.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE do covenant and declare, through this Union to struggle for fundamental Human Rights, Dignity of the Human person and Democratic reforms, and to secure for all students and youth in Bhutan, regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, the right to education and full development of the human personality.

FOR THESE ENDS, WE do resolve to accomplish these aims and objectives and do hereby constitute and adopt the STUDENTS UNION OF BHUTAN as hereunder.

ARTICLE - I	ARTICLE-XI
ARTICLE -II	ARTICLE-XII
ARTICLE-III	ARTICLE-XIII
ARTICLE-IV	ARTICLE-XIV
ARTICLE-V	ARTICLE-XV
ARTICLE-VI	ARTICLE-XVI
ARTICLE-VII	ARTICLE-XVII
ARTICLE-VIII	ARTICLE-XVIII
ARTICLE-IX	ARTICLE-XIX
ARTICLE-X

ARTICLE–I

1.0

THE ORGANIZATION

1.1

There shall be an organization named the STUDENTS UNION OF BHUTAN, hereinafter called SUB by abbreviation.

1.2

SUB shall maintain an independent position without affiliation to any political any Party.

1.3

The Head office of SUB shall be located at Phuntsholing Bhutan.

1.4

Functional and other branch offices of SUB may be located at other places, including territories outside Bhutan, depending upon the circumstances and need for such establishments.

1.5

SUB shall function a purely non-profit, service oriented, mass based organization

ARTICLE-II

2.0

THE FLAG

2.1

The SUB flag shall be rectangular with a width to height ratio of 1.35 to 1.00. The base color shall be blue. Three yellow stars shall be placed in a straight line on the top of the flag and a brown pen, lying on the book shall point to the extreme right star.

2.2

The blue background of the flag symbolizes vastness and humanity. The open book and pen represent wisdom and knowledge, white further signifying purity and peace, and brown symbolizing thought and expression. The three yellow stars stand for brightness, youth & students rights and destiny.

ARTICLE–III

3.0

THE OBJECTIVES

3.1

SUB shall seek avenues and opportunities for the education of children affected by the current movement for democracy and Human Rights in Bhutan.

3.2

SUB will promote the ideals of democracy and freedom of the individual. It will cooperate with and assist any organization struggling for Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Person in Bhutan.

3.3

SUB shall take up the cause of prisoners of conscience, Human Rights activists and other innocent people in Bhutanese prisons.

3.4

SUB shall highlight the gross violation of Human Rights by the current repressive regime in Bhutan.

3.5

SUB shall respect and safeguard the Sovereignty and Territorial integrity of Bhutan.

3.6

In a democratic Bhutan, SUB shall :

Endeavor to secure the rights of youth & students, and safeguard these rights against any form of exploitation.

Fight against all forms of discrimination.

Serve the people and community at large.

Help the administration during the times of emergency and natural calamities.

Work for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society, with special emphasis on women and children

Help preserve the cultural heritage and traditional value systems, and promote national integration.

Create linkage and promote solidarity with students and peoples in other nations

ARTICLE–IV

4.0

MEMBERSHIP

4.1

Any Bhutanese citizen having attained the age of Fifteen (15) and fulfilling the criteria below may acquire membership of SUB:

He/she abides by this Constitution.

He/she is a student of trainee, or was a student or trainee at the time the Bhutanese movement for Human Rights and Democracy was launched in 1988.

He/she works, or was working in 1988, in an educational or training institution.

He/she is not a member during the current movement, of any other Bhutan-based organization.

ARTICLE-V

5.0

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

5.1

An elected president shall be the Chief Executive of SUB.

5..2

An elected Vice President shall function as the assistant to the Chief Executive.

ARTICLE–VI

6.0

OFFICE BEARERS

6.1

The functions of SUB shall be carried out through office bearer appointed by the President as noted under Article 15.

ARTICLE–VII

7.0

Committees

7.1

Central Committee: SUB shall have a central committee comprising a maximum of twenty-seven (27) members, including the President and Vice President.

7.2

Executive Committee: SUB shall have an executive committee comprising a maximum of eleven (11) members, including the President and Vice President.

7.3

Standing Committee: SUB shall have a standing committee comprising a maximum of seven (7) members. No member of the committees under clauses 7.1 shall be appointed in the standing committee

ARTICLE–VIII

8.0

VOTING RIGHTS

8.1

Every member of SUB shall have the right to cast his vote in the election of the President, Vice President and members of the Central Committee.

ARTICLE–IX

9.0

ELECTION PROCEDURE

9.1

Any member of SUB shall have the right to present himself as a candidate in the elections of the Union.

9.2

The General Body of SUB shall elect, by simple majority, a President and Vice President.

9.3

The general body of SUB shall elect members for the central committee on the basis of maximum vote count for each candidate.

ARTICLE-X

10.1

TENURE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

10.2

The tenure of elected officials shall be three (3) years

10.3

There shall be no bar to the number of occasions elected officials may seek re-election.

ARTICLE-XI

11.0

SELECTION OF MEMBERS TO OTHER COMMITTEE

11.1

Executive Committee: Members for the Executive committee shall be selected through a process of nomination by the President and endorsement by the central committee.

11.2

Standing committee members for the standing committee shall be selected through a process of nomination by the president and endorsement by the executive committee.

ARTICLE-XII

12.0

FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

12.1

General body meetings shall be held at least once each calendar year.

12.2

The Central Committee shall meet at least thrice each calendar year.

12.3

The Executive Committee shall meet as and when deemed necessary.

12.4

In addition to any regularly scheduled meetings, the President may call emergency or extraordinary meetings of any of the committees or the central body as and when necessary.

ARTICLE XIII

13.0

QUORUM FOR MEETINGS

13.1

The quorum required for the conduct of Central Committee meetings shall be fifty percent plus one.

13.2

The quorum required for the conduct of Executive Committee meetings shall be two-thirds.

ARTICLE XIV

14.0

VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE

14.1

A vote of no confidence against the President may be tabled with the support of at least one third (1/3) of the Central Committee.

14.2

All members of the Central Committee shall be present when a vote of no confidence is tabled.

14.3

The President shall be removed by a majority of not less than two third (2/3) of the Central Committee.`

14.4

Elected members other than the President may be removed by a simple majority of the members present and voting at the General body meeting.

ARTICLE-XV

15.0

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICE BEARERS

15.1

All appointments for the various posts in SUB shall be made by the President upon the recommendations of the executive committee.

ARTICLE-XVI

16.0

ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION

16.1

The President shall have the power to accept the resignation of any member of SUB, including office bearers and members of the different committees.

16.2

The Central Committee shall have the authority to accept the resignation of the President, Vice president and General Secretary.

ARTICLE-XVII

17.0

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

17.1

The president, upon the recommendation of the executive committee, shall have the power to suspend or expel any non-elected member of SUB, including office bearers and members of the different committees, acting in violation of the constitution and bye-laws laid down within the framework of the constitution.

17.2

In the case of elected members, including the President and Vice President, cases of disciplinary action must be supported by at least one third (1/3) of the voting members. The actions to be taken against the errant elected member shall be approved by two-third (2/3) majority in the general body meeting

ARTICLE-XVIII

18.0

FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

18.1

The financial resources required to undertake the activities of SUB shall be raised through :

Membership subscription

Donations and endowments

Sale of SUB literature and publication

Fund raising activities.

ARTICLE-XIX

19.0

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

19.1

No amendment that affects the basic character of the constitution shall be made.`

19.2

The constitution shall be amended by a minimum majority of two thirds (2/3) in the central committee, and shall come into effect upon its approval by the general body meeting.

On today’s date April 7, 1992, we the executive members officially endorse and adopt these bylaws:

President: Bishwanath Chhetri (Mr)

Vice President: Tarabir Subedi (Mr)

General Secretary: Kamal K. Dhital (Mr)

Secretary, Adm. & Finance: Tek Bir Chhetri (Mr)

Secretary, Indian Affairs:                          Narayan Timsina (Mr)

Secretary Press & Publicity:                    Hem Kant Neopaney (Mr)
                                                                   Chatur Singh Tamang(Mr.)

Secretary, Camp Affairs: Arun Rai (Mr)

Secretary, Public Relation: Prahlad Dahal (Mr)

Secretary Women Affairs: Bhim Maya Subba (Ms)

Vice President: Tarabir Subedi (Mr)

Secretary, Indian Affairs: Narayan Timsina (Mr)

Secretary Press & Publicity: Hem Kant Neopaney (Mr) Chatur Singh Tamang(Mr.)

Secretary Press & Publicity: Hem Kant Neopaney (Mr)
Chatur Singh Tamang(Mr.)