Debate Society

Debate Society

The college has a Debate Society, popularly known as “DebSoc” to introduce students to various debating forums. It’s a forum for all those who find passion in putting forward their ideologies. They are responsible for encouraging students to participate in various national and international debate, Model United Nation, Parliamentary Debate etc.

The Constitution of Ramaiah College of Law Debate Society

Preamble

Whereas:

The M.S.Ramaiah College of Law was established in the interests of higher legal education and professional training. The college’s aim is to develop in their students a strong backing of the legal profession with an all-round character development program.

In this context, the college has given due importance to the extra-curricular and co-curricular activities as essential to the development of a student’s personality. The M.S.Ramaiah College of Law Debate Society was hence made to better develop the oratory skills of aspiring lawyers. It was felt, a new constitution be made to govern the Debate Society and help in realizing all that it stands for.

Part 1: The Debate Society

1. The Debate Society shall comprise of only full time students of the college who shall meet as a General Body in accordance to the Constitution.
2. The Principal of the college shall be the Patron of the Debate Society.
3. The Debate Society shall deal with all and only those functions dealt within the constitution.
4. The Debate Society shall be the primary body for the students to participate in the activity of debating, whether it is tournaments of a national or international nature, or even intra-college debates.
5. Any student wishing to attend a debate must first approach the debate society and must be on the record of the same in order to represent the college in any form of debate or debate-related activity.
6. All permissions relating to debate or debate-related activities must first receive the approval of the Debate Society, followed by the approval of the Principal in order to be considered a genuine authorization for partaking in debating or debate-related activities of any sort.

Part 2: The General Body of the Debate Society

1. An ordinary meeting of the General Body of the Debate Society shall meet at least twice a week on the days determined by the Office Bearers and the Faculty-in Charge.
2. The General Body shall consist of :

1. The Office Bearers

1. Convenor
2. Co-convenor
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer

1. The Member of the Closed group
2. The Members of the Open Group

1. Apart from the ordinary meetings, a special meeting may be called for one of the following reasons:-

1. Special Meeting, in connection with the removal of any of the office bearers (as under Article 9)
2. Special Meeting called in by the Office bearers in relation to extra-ordinary circumstances with prior notice being given out.
3. Special Meeting related to the necessary action needed with immediate effect, with prior notice being given out.
4. Special meeting for discussion on an upcoming debate for registration and team forming the same.

Part 3: The Debate Society Faculty Council

1. The Debate Society shall have one member of the college faculty nominated by the Patron of the Debate Society.
2. The Faculty Member shall be the Faculty Advisor of the Debate Society.
3. The Faculty Advisor shall have the right to attend the ordinary meetings at any time he/she chooses to do so.
4. The Faculty Advisor shall advise the Debate Society, in the performance of its functions, the developments of the organization and its budget requirements. The Faculty Member can also recommend actions to the Patron for the benefit of the Debate Society and its members.

Part 4: Finances and Audits

1. The Treasurer shall be accountable for the finances of the Debate Society.
2. The Debate Society Treasurer shall submit an account of the amount of funds held by the Debate Society at the end of every semester.
3. The Treasurer is also accountable to the Faculty Advisor.

Part 5: The Convenor

1. There shall be a Convenor elected in accordance to the provisions of this constitution.
2. The Convenor shall head the Debate Society in all its general and special functions.
3. The Convenor’s term shall be for a period not greater than one academic year.
4. The Convenor shall be elected in the last month of the academic year for the forthcoming academic year.
5. Apart from the following disqualifications mentioned below, any member of the closed group having taken part in at least 7 Parliamentary Debates either as a speaker or adjudicator  can stand for Convenor
6. Any member of the Debate Society shall not be eligible for the post if:-

1. Found guilty of serious misconduct.
2. Found to be politicizing the Debate Society.
3. He/she fails to be a member of the closed group.

1. The Convenor shall be elected directly by the members of the closed group who shall continue to be members in the succeeding academic year.
2. The Convenor shall remain answerable to the Faculty advisor-in-charge on issues dealt with Part 3(4) of the Constitution.

Part 6: The Co-Convenor

1. There shall be a Co-Convenor elected in accordance to the provisions of this constitution.
2. The Co-Convenor shall assist the Convenor in all general functions of the Debate Society.
3. The Co-Convenor term shall be for a period not extending one academic year.
4. The Co-Convenor shall be elected in the last month of the academic year for the forthcoming academic year.
5. The Co-Convenor shall be the ‘acting’ Convenor in the Convenor’s absence.
6. Apart from the following disqualifications mentioned below, any member of the closed group having taken part in at least 7 Parliamentary Debates either as a speaker or adjudicator can stand for Co-Convenor.

1. Any member of the Debate Society shall not be eligible for the post if:-

1. Found guilty of serious misconduct
2. Found to be politicizing the Debate Society
3. He/she fails to be a member of the closed group.

1. Co-Convenor shall be elected directly by members who shall continue to be members in the succeeding academic year.
2. The Co-Convenor is answerable to the Faculty advisor-in-charge.

Part 7: The Secretary

1. There shall be a Secretary nominated by the Convenor and the Co-Convenor after elections for the succeeding academic year have taken place.
2. The Secretary shall maintain a Co-Convenory of members of the Debate Society in addition to a list of tournaments attended by these members, as well as total number of wins, and present status of the member.
3. The Secretary shall hold office for a period of one academic year.
4. Apart from the following disqualifications mentioned below, any member of the closed group having taken part in at least 4 Parliamentary Debates either as a speaker or adjudicator  can stand for Secretary
5. Any member of the Debate Society shall not be eligible for the post if:-

1. Found guilty of serious misconduct.
2. Found to be politicizing the Debate Society.
3. He/she fails to be a member of the closed group.

1. The Secretary shall be elected directly by the members of the closed group who shall continue to be members in the succeeding academic year.
2. The Secretary shall remain answerable to the Faculty advisor-in-charge.

Part 8: The Treasurer

1. There shall be a Treasurer for the Debate Society.
2. The Treasurer is in charge of all finances in relation to the Debate Society.
3. The Treasurer’s term shall not exceed a period of one year.
4. Apart from the following disqualifications mentioned below, any member of the closed group having taken part in at least 3 Parliamentary Debates either as a speaker or adjudicator can stand for Treasurer.
5. Any member of the Debate Society shall not be eligible for the post if:-

i.Found guilty of serious misconduct.

ii.Found to be politicizing the Debate Society.

iii.He/she fails to be a member of the closed group.

6.The Treasurer shall be elected directly by the members of the closed group who shall continue to be members in the succeeding academic year.

7.The Treasurer shall remain answerable to the Faculty advisor-in-charge

Part 9: Removal from Office

1. The office bearers may be removed from office by the Debate Society and the post shall thereafter be filled in accordance to Part 10.
2. Removal proceedings may be instituted by either:-

1. Request in writing made to the any of the office bearers and vice-versa with a consensus of not less than 50% of the General Body of the Debate Society.
2. Letter given to the Faculty Advisor, expressing the need for removal.

1. On the receipt of such a letter the person sought to be removed should write a letter back to

1. The Office bearers
2. The Faculty Advisor

1. The remaining three office bearers with the Faculty Advisor shall see if the removal request warrants the attention of the Debate Society.
2. After the following proceedings, within three days after the letter has been received from the person sought to be removed, a disciplinary hearing shall be called by the Faculty Advisor where both the person making the request for removal and the office bearer facing removal from post shall explain their grounds for and against such removal.
3. Subsequent to the disciplinary hearing the request for removal shall be passed by 2/3rds of members present and will take effect immediately.

Part 10: Vacancy in Office

1. On a vacancy arising in the post of the Convenor, the Co-Convenor shall assume all general functions of the Convenor. In the occasion of vacancy in both posts, the Secretary shall take over the Convenors functions while the Treasurer deals with the Co-Convenors functions.
2. On a vacancy arising in the post of the Co-Convenor only, the Secretary shall take over as ‘acting’ Co-Convenor.
3. On a vacancy arising in the post of the Secretary, the Convenor shall take over as ‘acting’ Secretary.
4. On a vacancy arising in the post of the Treasurer, the Co-Convenor shall take over all the functions of the Treasurer, as well as take control of the Finances of the Debate Society.
5. All changes made have to be in accordance with the Debate Society Constitution. Any alterations in the procedure shall not be accepted and can lead to revocation of membership.

Part 11: Amendments

1. On the recommendation of the office bearers, either independently or on the request of a member of the Debate Society, the agenda for an amendment will be looked into.
2. A meeting of the General Body shall be held by giving one week’s notice and stating the amendment requested in such notice.
3. The quorum for such a meeting should be 2/3rd of the total strength of the Debate Society at minimum
4. The amendment proposed should be passed by a maximum of 2/3 of the members present.
5. The amendment should be immediately informed to the Faculty Advisor, purely for his/her knowledge.

Part 12: Minutes and Records

1. A record of each sparring session shall be kept by the Secretary.
2. It shall contain information as to teams, their members, motions of debate of the day.
3. A copy of the record of minutes shall be given to the Faculty Advisor at the end of every two weeks.

Part 13: Absence/Attendance for Closed Group Meetings

1. A minimum of 70% attendance for Closed Group meetings is required, to be allowed to attend tournaments, as well as to be given the right to vote in Society matters, (when put to vote), both substantive and procedural.
2. A minimum of 60% attendance for Closed Group meetings is required to remain a part of the closed group. Failure to adhere to this standard, shall lead to relegation of the member to the Open Group.
3. The attendance will be calculated up to the last meeting held, for that academic semester is/are taken. If at the meeting, it is discovered, that a member, does not have sufficient attendance (inclusive of that meeting), he/she shall not be permitted to attend or take partinthat particular tournament.
4. Any member found to be approaching any office bearer, in an attempt to increase his/her attendance, or tries to sideline this rule, will either be ignored, or spoken to in an authoritative voice, depending on the office bearer you approach. Insistent and repeated instances shall result in disciplinary hearing as per the constitution.
5. Failure to adhere to this rule, will result in, non-participation in debate tournaments, non-participation in votes, and non-contesting in elections at the end of the semester.

Part 14: Advisory Members

1. The Convenor and Co-Convenor may, as per their discretion may nominate certain members to the position of Advisory Member for commendable work done in favour of the Debate Society over the course of their membership.
2. All Advisory Members must be final year students who were members of the Society.

Part 15: Membership

1. All Students admitted into Ramaiah College of Law will be automatic members of the Debate Society and will be segregated into the Open Group and the Closed Group.  
2. The Open Group: Every student of Ramaiah College of Law who is not a member of the Closed Group will be a member of the Open Group.

• The meetings of the Open Group will happen simultaneously with those of the Closed Group.
• Any student who is willing to attend the meeting is free to do so.

1. The Closed Group: The Closed Group of the Debate society will consist of existing members and 30 students selected from the incoming batch of every academic year.  

• The selection of the members of said group will be done in the beginning of each year, the procedure of which will be determined by the Office bearers and Faculty in Charge of that year.
• There shall be a revision of the membership of the closed group every semester and those members who are found to have insufficient attendance will be relegated to the open group and those spots will be filled by the deserving members of the open group in a manner determined by the Office bearers and Faculty in Charge of that year.

Part 16: Elections

1. Elections for the Governing body of the Debate Society shall take place within the first academic month of every odd semester.
2. All offices shall be elected by the general body with a need for a simple majority to be elected to the post.
3. The election will take place only under the supervision of the Principal or the teacher-in-charge and the election results will have to be ratified by both the principal and the teacher in charge for the change to come into effect.

Activities

Students Achievements

Debate participation / Achievements in the Academic Year 2018-2019

Annual Reports

LDS - Annual Report 2020-21

LDS - Annual Report 2019-20

LDS - Annual Report 2018-19

LDS - Annual Report 2017-18

LDS - Annual Report 2016-17