Norms for the formation and functioning of Chapters within India at places not falling under the jurisdiction of the Regional Councils Headquarters / Branches for the limited purpose of organizing CPE Programmes.
1. The members of the Institute, residing in a particular geographical area may form Chapters.
2. The geographical area from which members make an application to form a Chapter must be such that it does not fall within the area of any Regional Council Headquarters or of any Branch of Regional Council.
3. The area of any Chapter would be 50 Kms. from the city/town where the Chapter is located. In other words, there would be no other Chapter within a radius of 50 kms.
4. The minimum number of members necessary to apply for Chapter formation is 25.
5. Such members who desire to form a Chapter may apply in the prescribed format to the CPE Secretariat . The application should be forwarded through the concerned Regional Council Chairman within 30 days. In case the application is not forwarded within 30 days, the CPE Committee should go ahead with the formation of Chapter. The application so forwarded should carry the endorsements of the concerned Regional Council Chairman and one other member of the Regional Council. Any application so endorsed shall however be placed before the next meeting of the Regional Council as a noting item.
6. The CPE Committee shall process the application and has the authority to approve the formation of the Chapter. Upon approval, the CPE Committee shall inform the Chapter, the Regional Council, and other concerned administrative sections/departments of the Institute, of its dec ision.
7. Upon approval, the Chapters so formed shall be called __________ CPE Chapter of the ___________ (Name of Regional Council) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
8. Chapters so constituted shall work under the guidance, supervision and control of the concerned Regional Council of the Institute.
9. Chapters shall not use the logo of the Institute on their letterhead or on any other communication.
10. Chapters would be required to elect every calendar year a Convener and a Deputy Convener. An Advisory Committee be formed by the Study Chapter(s) comprising of Convener, Dy. Convener and one other member to look after its/their day to day affairs/activities. The Deputy Convener would be responsible for maintaining the accounts of the Chapter.
11. A person can serve as Convener or Dy. Convener of a CPE Chapter for a maximum of three consecutive terms of one year each.
12. Chapters shall get a lump sum fixed financial assistance of Rs. 25 , 000 /- per annum for conducting Learning Activities, as prescribed in the Statement on CPE issued by the Council. The grant shall however be subject to the Chapter complying with such other conditions as may be prescribed by CPE Committee from time to time.
13. Chapters shall not be eligible for any grant other than specified in Clause 12 above.
14. There should be at least one meeting per quarter of the members of the Chapters to discuss various matters of topical interest, at such predetermined place as may be convenient to members.
15. The address for communication of the Chapter will be that of the Convener.
16. Chapters shall not acquire any capital asset of their own.
17. Conveners are authorised to collect any sum in the form of contribution from the members to defray the cost of holding learning activities and other incidental charges.
18. Conveners shall submit half yearly and annual accounts of receipts and payments to the Regional Council. The half yearly accounts from 1st April – 30th September every year shall be submitted before 15th of October of the relevant year. Half yearly accounts from 1st October – 31st March of the following year along with the Annual Accounts for the period from 1st April to 31st March shall be submitted before the 15th of May every year to the Regional Council.
19. The CPE Chapters should open and operate separate bank account in respect of receipts and payments relating to 100 hrs IT training and Orientation Programmes, in accordance with the guidelines formulated by the Board of Studies.
20. Convener shall send copies of the Notices convening the meetings, and Report of such meetings to the concerned Regional Council within ten days of such meetings. The Convener is required to upload the programme details before organizing any programme and thereafter uploading the attendance thereof on the CPE Portal within 72 hours of organizing a programme.
21. The Chapters shall not have their own rules and byelaws registered under any other Act or Rules/Regulations.
22. Chapters so constituted shall also comply with other administrative rules, namely, operation of Bank account, audit, maintenance of account, other procedural matters, elections etc. as are applicable to Branches of the Institute.
23. The responsibility for ensuring financial propriety in the financial management of the Chapter, and the responsibility for production of proper audited accounts, shall be that of the Deputy Convener. In all other matters, the responsibility shall be jointly that of the Convener and the Deputy Convener.
24. All the Chapters will be eligible to get CPE Credit hours, if the learning activities are within the framework of the CPE Statement.
25. If any Chapter is found to be working against the interest/policies of the Institute or its guidelines, the Chapter shall be de -recognised. The authority to de – recognise the Chapter, on the above grounds vests with the CPE Committee.
26. In the event of lack of clarity in any matter in the formation of Chapters or their administration, application should be made to the CPE Committee, which is entrusted with the responsibility for providing such clarification.
27. Non-members should not be permitted/ invited to participate in a CPE Programme organizing by a Study Chapter. No delegate fees should be collected from them under any circumstances.
28. Sponsorship fees should preferably be avoided by the Study Chapters.
29. The programme should be conducted in such a way as to cut down the travel time of the members. Study Chapters should preferably conduct the programme within a radius of 2 kilometers of their jurisdiction.
30. The Study Chapters should conduct only short duration programmes i.e., half day or maximum of one day. They may conduct one two-day programme having 12 CPE hours in a year subject to maximum of six CPE hours per day.
31. In special cases, on a request received from at least 25 members, the Committee shall approve setting up of CPE Chapter at a place which is falling within the jurisdiction of any branch. However, no such request shall be entertained if the place of setting up of such CPE Chapter is within the radius of 200 kms of the jurisdiction branch. The 25 members who may make a request shall be from the place where the CPE Chapter is proposed to be formed.