Effective Date: 24/10/2023

1. GENERAL POLICY –

# This Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which refunds may be issued for membership fees, event registrations, awards, grants, and other payments made to the SARPS.
# All refund requests must be submitted in writing to [Society’s Official Email/Address] and will be processed in compliance with the terms outlined.

2. MEMBERSHIP FEES -

# Non-Refundable: Membership fees are strictly non-refundable under any circumstances, including voluntary withdrawal, membership suspension, or termination due to policy violations.
# Transfer Requests: Membership fees are non-transferable to another individual or entity.
# Double Payment Errors: If a duplicate payment is made, a refund request must be submitted within 7 days of the transaction, along with proof of payment

3. EVENT REGISTRATIONS (CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, WEBINARS, AWARD CEREMONIES)
3.1 Cancellation by the Participant:
# Before 30 days of the event: 75% refund of the registration fee.
# Between 15-30 days of the event: 50% refund.
# Less than 15 days before the event: No refund will be provided.

3.2 Cancellation by SARPS:
# If an event is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, a full refund will be processed within 06 months to a maximum of 01 year or an option to transfer the fee to a future event will be provided.
# The society will not be liable for additional expenses such as travel, accommodation, or bank transaction charges

4. AWARDS, GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

4.1 False Information or Misrepresentation –
# If an awardee is found to have provided false information, the award will be immediately revoked, and the recipient must return any monetary benefits within 15 days of notification.
# Failure to comply will result in legal action and permanent disqualification from future grants.

4.2 Failure to Complete Research/Project: -
# If a grant recipient fails to complete the project for which the funds were awarded, they must refund 100% of the amount received unless a valid reason (medical emergency, force majeure) is provided.

4.3 Withdrawal of Application:
# If an applicant withdraws voluntarily before the official grant or award decision is announced, a 50% refund of any processing fees will be provided.

5. PUBLICATIONS & SUBMISSIONS

5.1 Article Processing Charges (APC) & Journal Submission Fees:
# Non-refundable once the manuscript has been submitted for review.
# If a manuscript is withdrawn before peer review begins, a 50% refund may be issued upon formal request.

6. SPONSORSHIPS & DONATIONS –
# Non-refundable: All sponsorships and donations made to PSS are final and non-refundable.

7. REFUND PROCESSING TIMELINE
# Approved refunds will be processed within 30 business days after submission of a formal refund request.
# Refunds will be issued via the original payment method (bank transfer, credit card, etc.).
# Processing fees and administrative charges may be deducted from the refund amount.

8. NON-COMPLIANCE & PENALTIES
# Any individual or entity failing to return funds as per the policy will face legal consequences, including financial penalties and reporting to regulatory bodies.
# Future participation in society activities, memberships, and funding opportunities will be permanently revoked for violators.

This Refund Policy has been reviewed and approved by the governing body of the SARPS Society
Signature: ________________________
Name: Dr. Ruchita Shrivastava
Designation: President
Date: 24/10/2023
NOTE - This strict refund policy ensures financial discipline and prevents misuse of society funds.