Bylaw for CATO

THE TRAVANCORE-COCHIN LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC AND CHARITABLE SOCIETIES
REGISTRATION ACT, 1955

Rules & Regulations
of
Confederation of Accredited Tour Operators

Name

CONFEDERATION OF ACCREDITED TOUR OPERATORS

(Hereinafter called the “Society”)

Registered Office

The Registered Office of the Society shall be at TC 36/1866, Sangamam Nagar, New Gardens, Vallakadavu P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695008, or at such other place as may be decided by the General Body of the Society.

Area of Operation

The area of operation of the Society shall be within the State of Kerala.

Nature of the Society

The Society shall be a non-profit charitable organization with aims and objectives specified in its Memorandum of Association.

Objects

To promote tourism in the State of Kerala in association with the Government of Kerala, Department of Tourism.
To promote the interests of all accredited tour operators registered with Kerala Tourism.
To organize study tours for foreign travel agents, tourism promotion agencies, and travel writers to Kerala.
To collect and disseminate statistical information relating to tourism in India and abroad.
To study tourist arrivals, spending patterns, destinations visited, and duration of stay.
To undertake tourism promotion through seminars, workshops, exhibitions, publications, travel guides, brochures, and advertisements.
To act as a representative body for the tourism industry in Kerala.
To engage consultants and conduct tourism studies to identify opportunities and challenges.
To conduct training programmes for members, employees, and students interested in tourism.
To promote awareness of the Society’s activities among the public and tourism trade.
To organize and support cultural, social, and national events that encourage tourism.
To represent issues affecting tourism trade before government authorities and other agencies.
To respond to government policies affecting tourism and its stakeholders.
To seek legal remedies on issues affecting members or the public in matters relating to tourism.
To collaborate, affiliate, or merge with organizations having similar objectives.
To enter into agreements with trusts, societies, and associations with similar goals.
To open and operate bank accounts in India as approved by the Managing Committee.
To raise funds through subscriptions, donations, exhibitions, advertisements, and other lawful means.
To acquire movable and immovable properties for the benefit of the Society.
To borrow funds from financial institutions, individuals, or members, subject to General Body approval.
To conduct business activities that support tourism promotion and Society objectives.
To utilize available funds exclusively for promoting the objectives of the Society.
To lend or advance money to employees or others as approved by the Managing Committee.
To invest surplus funds in approved securities and financial instruments.
To hold and maintain properties and buildings required for Society activities.
To contribute funds for public causes and tourism development initiatives.
To frame, amend, and enforce rules, regulations, and by-laws.
To undertake all lawful activities incidental to achieving the Society’s objectives.

Provided that: Contributions or cooperation with other trusts, societies, or projects having similar objectives shall be deemed to further the purposes of this Society.

Society Not for Profit

The income and property of the Society shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its objectives, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus, interest, or profit to any member of the Society.

Nothing contained herein shall prevent the payment of reasonable remuneration to employees for services rendered, reimbursement of legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Society, or payment of reasonable interest on money borrowed.

No member shall have any personal claim on the movable or immovable properties of the Society or derive any financial benefit solely by virtue of membership.

Governing Body

The management and control of the Society shall vest in the Managing Committee elected by the General Body of members. The affairs of the Society shall be administered in accordance with these Rules and Regulations.

The names, addresses, and designations of the first members of the Managing Committee are given below:

Sl. No.	Name	Designation	Address
1	Mr. Abraham George	President	Intersight Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd. 1st Floor, Anna Building, NH Bypass, Thykoodam, Vyttila, Kochi – 682019
2	Mr. Anish Kumar P. K.	Honorary Secretary	The Travel Planners TC 36/1866(2), New Gardens, Sangamam Nagar, Enchakkal, Vallakkadavu P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695008
3	Mr. Sejoe	Treasurer	Marvel Tours Pvt. Ltd. Earthen Cube, Bund Road, Off NH 47 Bypass, Maradu, Kochi – 682304
4	Mr. Sanjeev Kumar	Vice President	Voyages Kerala TC 36/1099(3), Shandini Buildings, Enchakkal Junction, Vallakkadavu P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695008
5	Mr. Renju	Honorary Joint Secretary	Pioneer Personalized Holidays Pvt. Ltd. Pioneer House, 5th Cross Road, Willingdon Island, Kochi – 682003
6	Mr. Benny Thomas	Member	Vacation India Vacation House, Plamoodu Junction, Pattom P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695004
7	Mr. Sreekumar Menon	Member	Chalukya Grace Tours Pvt. Ltd. Tower House, Convent Road, Thiruvananthapuram – 695001
8	Mr. Subash Ghosh	Member	Keralagreenery A1, Ground Floor, Appoos Serene, Tutors Lane, Statue, Thiruvananthapuram – 695001
9	Mr. Chandrasenan	Member	Cosmos Tours & Travels AMRA 23, Karali Road, Chakkai Pettah, Thiruvananthapuram – 695024
10	Mr. Prasad P. R.	Member	Intersight Holidays (P) Ltd. 28/243, Benista Building, S.A. Road, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi – 682036
11	Mr. Jacob Mathew	Member	Kerala Holidays Pvt. Ltd. Aarcee Square, 4th Floor, Elamkulam, Kadavanthra, Kochi – 682020

Definitions

(a) “Society” means the CONFEDERATION OF ACCREDITED TOUR OPERATORS (CATO).

(b) “Member” means a person duly admitted as a member of the Society according to its Rules and Regulations, whose name is entered in the Register of Members and who has paid the prescribed subscription, and whose membership has not ceased by resignation, removal, or otherwise.

(c) “General Body” means the collective body of all members of the Society.

(d) “Managing Committee” means the Managing Committee entrusted with the management and administration of the affairs of the Society.

(e) “Office Bearers” means the President, Vice President, Honorary Secretary, Joint Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer.

(f) “Act” means The Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955.

(g) “Rules” means the Rules and Regulations of the Society as amended from time to time.

(h) “Memorandum” means the Memorandum of Association of the Society.

(i) “Person” includes individuals, firms, institutions, establishments, and companies.

(j) “Year” means the financial year of the Society, extending from 1st April to 31st March unless otherwise determined by the Society.

Note: Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine, and words in the singular shall include the plural wherever the context so requires.

General Body

The General Body of the Society shall consist of all members of the Society.

The General Body shall meet whenever necessary or whenever convened by the Managing Committee in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Society.

General Meetings

The quorum for a General Meeting shall be not less than 30% of the total members present in person.
A minimum of twenty-one (21) days’ notice shall be given to members, specifying the date, time, venue, and purpose of the meeting.
Minutes of all proceedings shall be recorded in the Minutes Book and confirmed at the next meeting.
Decisions shall ordinarily be taken by a simple majority through a show of hands, unless otherwise provided in these Rules.
Every eligible member shall have one vote, provided that all membership dues have been fully paid.
The President shall preside over all General Meetings. In the President’s absence, the members present shall elect a Chairman from among themselves.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

An Annual General Meeting shall be held at least once in every calendar year and within six months of closing the annual accounts.

Not more than fifteen months shall elapse between two consecutive Annual General Meetings.

The first AGM may be held within eighteen months from the date of registration of the Society.

Business to be Transacted at the AGM

To consider and adopt the Annual Report presented by the Managing Committee.
To consider and adopt the audited Balance Sheet, Income and Expenditure Statement, and Auditor’s Report.
To elect members to the Managing Committee at every alternate Annual General Meeting.
To appoint an Auditor and determine the remuneration payable.
To transact any other business included in the Agenda of the Meeting.

Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)

The Managing Committee may, at any time, convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society.
The Committee shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting within one month of receiving a written request from not less than three-fourths of the members, clearly stating the matters to be discussed.
Such meetings shall be convened with a minimum notice period of twenty-one (21) days.

Managing Committee

Composition

The management and administration of the affairs of the Society shall vest in the Managing Committee consisting of ten (10) members, unless otherwise decided by the General Body in a duly convened meeting.

Election of Members to the Managing Committee

The first Managing Committee shall consist of the persons whose names, descriptions, and addresses are specified in Clause 7 of the Memorandum of Association of the Society.

They shall continue in office until the conclusion of the first Annual General Meeting of the Society.

Members of subsequent Managing Committees shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for a period of two years.

Any casual vacancy arising due to death, resignation, retirement, or any other reason shall be filled by the Managing Committee. The person so appointed shall hold office only for the remaining term of his or her predecessor.

Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election.

A list of the Managing Committee members shall be filed with the Registrar within fourteen (14) days from the date of the Annual General Meeting.

Office Bearers

The members of the Managing Committee shall elect from among themselves the following office bearers:

President
Vice President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Joint Secretary
Honorary Treasurer

Proceedings of the Managing Committee

The Managing Committee shall meet whenever necessary for conducting the affairs of the Society, but not less than once every quarter.
Meetings shall ordinarily be convened by the President or the Honorary Secretary.
The quorum for a meeting of the Managing Committee shall be three members present in person.
The President shall preside over all meetings of the Managing Committee.
Voting shall be conducted personally and by a show of hands. Each member shall have one vote.
In the event of an equality of votes, the President shall have a casting vote.
No member shall participate in voting on matters in which he or she has a direct pecuniary interest.
In the absence of the President, members present shall elect one among themselves to act as Chairman for that particular meeting.
A notice of every meeting, specifying the general nature of the business to be transacted, shall be issued by the Honorary Secretary at least five clear days in advance, unless urgent circumstances require shorter notice.
Proceedings of a meeting held in good faith shall not be invalidated due to accidental omissions or minor defects in the notice.
A resolution circulated among all members and approved in writing by a majority shall have the same force and effect as a resolution passed at a duly convened meeting.
Minutes of every meeting shall be recorded, approved, and signed by the Chairman at the subsequent meeting.

Powers and Duties of the Managing Committee

In addition to the powers specifically provided elsewhere, the Managing Committee shall exercise the following powers and responsibilities:

To take appropriate steps for achieving the objectives of the Society.
To enter into Memoranda of Understanding with Government agencies for tourism-related activities within and outside Kerala.
To acquire property, rights, or privileges beneficial to the Society.
To invest or manage the funds of the Society in a prudent and beneficial manner.
To consider and dispose of membership applications, with or without assigning reasons.
To administer the finances of the Society and enforce its Rules and Bye-laws.
To appoint, suspend, retire, dismiss, or otherwise manage the services of officers, employees, and staff.
To take disciplinary action against members where necessary.
To raise loans or borrow funds for the benefit of the Society.
To provide loans or advances to employees or suppliers under terms approved by the Committee.
To enter into contracts and agreements on behalf of the Society.
To convene General Meetings of the Society.
To appoint the first Auditor and determine his or her remuneration.
To maintain proper books of accounts and arrange for annual audits.
To constitute Committees and Sub-Committees and delegate powers as deemed necessary.

Powers and Duties of the Office Bearers

President

The President shall exercise general supervision and control over the affairs of the Society.

To direct the Honorary Secretary to convene meetings of the Managing Committee whenever necessary.
To appoint, in consultation with the Honorary Secretary and with the approval of the Managing Committee, suitable persons for carrying out the functions of the Society.
To execute documents and agreements on behalf of the Society.
To preside over meetings of the Managing Committee and the General Body.
To perform all duties normally attached to the office of the President.
In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall discharge the duties and responsibilities of the President.

Honorary Secretary

The Honorary Secretary shall be the administrative head of the Society and shall perform the following duties:

To receive membership applications and place them before the Managing Committee.
To implement the decisions of the Managing Committee.
To convene meetings of the Managing Committee and General Body in consultation with the President.
To prepare the agenda for meetings.
To maintain properly numbered Minutes Books.
To place important correspondence before the Managing Committee.
To supervise the office and day-to-day administration of the Society.
To maintain custody of all records and documents.
To maintain petty cash required for daily operations.
To represent the Society in legal proceedings when authorized.
To implement directions of the General Body and Managing Committee.
To take all necessary actions for achieving the objectives of the Society.

Honorary Treasurer

The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for the custody, management, and control of the finances of the Society.

To receive and deposit all subscriptions, donations, fees, and other income into approved bank accounts.
To maintain proper books of accounts, vouchers, and financial records.
To submit periodic financial statements to the Managing Committee.
To arrange for annual audits of the accounts.
To jointly operate bank accounts with authorized office bearers.
To safeguard the financial interests of the Society.
To ensure compliance with financial regulations and internal controls.

Accounts and Audit

The Society shall maintain proper books of accounts at its registered office, containing accurate details of:

All receipts and expenditures together with their sources and purposes.
All purchases and sales made by the Society.
The assets and liabilities of the Society.

The Managing Committee shall prepare annual financial statements including the Balance Sheet and Income & Expenditure Account for every financial year.

Such statements shall be signed by the President, Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer.

The accounts shall be audited and certified by qualified auditors appointed by the Society.

Copies of audited statements shall be submitted to the Registrar along with the prescribed fees.

The first auditors shall be appointed by the Managing Committee within one month of registration and shall hold office until the first Annual General Meeting.

Subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the Managing Committee, members shall have the right to inspect the accounts of the Society.

Operation of Bank Accounts

The Society may open, maintain, operate, and close bank accounts in India or abroad as may be required.

The Society may deposit funds, earn interest, issue cheques, and conduct all lawful banking transactions necessary for its activities.

Bank accounts shall be operated jointly by any two of the following office bearers:

President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer

Important: The signature of the Honorary Secretary shall be mandatory for all banking operations.

Legal Proceedings

All legal proceedings by or against the Society shall be instituted in the name of the President or the Honorary Secretary.

Proceedings shall continue against successors in office and shall not abate merely because of changes in office bearers.

Any decree passed against the Society shall be enforceable only against the assets and properties of the Society and not against the personal properties of its office bearers.

The Society may initiate legal action against a member in the following circumstances:

Failure to pay subscription dues.
Wrongful possession or detention of Society property.
Damage or destruction of Society assets.
Embezzlement or fraudulent use of Society funds or property.
Any act causing financial loss or damage to the Society.

Amendments

Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Memorandum of Association or the Rules and Regulations of the Society may be amended, altered, or modified only through a Special Resolution passed by not less than three-fourths of the members present and voting at a meeting specially convened for the purpose.

A minimum notice period of twenty-one (21) days shall be given to all members regarding the proposed amendments.

All amendments shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955.

A certified copy of every amendment shall be submitted to the Registrar within fourteen (14) days from the date of the General Body Meeting at which such amendments were approved.

Dissolution

If at any time the affairs of the Society can no longer be carried on, the Society may be dissolved through a Special Resolution passed by not less than three-fourths of the members present and voting at a meeting specially convened for that purpose.

A notice period of twenty-one (21) days shall be provided before such a meeting.

Upon dissolution, after settlement of all liabilities and obligations, the remaining assets of the Society shall be transferred to another Society or Trust having similar objectives or vested with the Government, as decided in accordance with the applicable laws.

Note: These Rules and Regulations shall always be interpreted subject to the provisions of the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955.

Subscription & Declaration

We, the several persons whose names, occupations, addresses, and signatures are given below, are desirous of forming a Society under the name:

“CONFEDERATION OF ACCREDITED TOUR OPERATORS”

under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955, in pursuance of this Memorandum of Association.

Dated this the 29th day of January, 2011

Founding Members

Mr. Abraham George

Tour Operator

Intersight Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd.
1st Floor, Anna Building,
NH Bypass, Thykoodam, Vyttila,
Kochi – 682019

Mr. Anish Kumar P. K.

Tour Operator

The Travel Planners
TC 36/1866(2), New Gardens,
Sangamam Nagar, Enchakkal,
Vallakkadavu P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695008

Mr. Sejoe

Tour Operator

Marvel Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Earthen Cube, Bund Road,
Off NH 47 Bypass, Maradu,
Kochi – 682304

Mr. Sanjeev Kumar

Tour Operator

Voyages Kerala
TC 36/1099(3), Shandini Buildings,
Enchakkal Junction,
Vallakkadavu P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695008

Mr. Renju

Tour Operator

Pioneer Personalized Holidays Pvt. Ltd.
Pioneer House, 5th Cross Road,
Willingdon Island,
Kochi – 682003

Mr. Benny Thomas

Tour Operator

Vacation India
Vacation House,
Plamoodu Junction, Pattom P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695004

Mr. Sreekumar Menon

Tour Operator

Chalukya Grace Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Tower House, Convent Road,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695001

Mr. Subash Ghosh

Tour Operator

Keralagreenery
A1, Ground Floor,
Appoos Serene, Tutors Lane,
Statue, Thiruvananthapuram – 695001

Mr. Chandrasenan

Tour Operator

Cosmos Tours & Travels
AMRA 23, Karali Road,
Chakkai Pettah,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695024

Mr. Prasad P. R.

Tour Operator

Intersight Holidays (P) Ltd.
28/243, Benista Building,
S.A. Road, Panampilly Nagar,
Kochi – 682036

Mr. Jacob Mathew

Tour Operator

Kerala Holidays Pvt. Ltd.
Aarcee Square, 4th Floor,
Elamkulam, Kadavanthra,
Kochi – 682020

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT

HOW TO BECOME AN ACCREDITED TOUR OPERATOR?

+91 93870 66801

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About CATO

Confederation of Accredited Tour Operators is an umbrella body of Govt. of Kerala-approved tour operators. CATO was founded in 2012 by the Government of Kerala and a group of quality-conscious tour operators.

☎ +91 93870 66801

catokerala@gmail.com

THE TRAVANCORE-COCHIN LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC AND CHARITABLE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1955

Rules & Regulations of Confederation of Accredited Tour Operators