Terms of Service

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

This document constitutes a binding legal agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and CiViC Bharat ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing, browsing, or utilizing the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you are prohibited from using the Platform and must immediately cease all access.

2. LEGAL NATURE & SCOPE OF SERVICES

CiViC Bharat operates as a technology-based Intermediary under Section 2(1)(w) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

STRICT DISCLAIMERS:

• Non-Governmental Entity: CiViC Bharat is a private technology platform. We are NOT a government body, agency, or official department.
• No Administrative Power: We do not possess or exercise any governmental or regulatory authority.
• Conduit Only: Our role is limited to providing a structured digital conduit to facilitate communication between Citizens and public authorities. We do not act as your legal representative or advocate.

3. NO WARRANTY OF OUTCOME OR RESOLUTION

The Platform facilitates the routing of grievances; it does not guarantee their resolution.

• No Guarantee of Response: We do not guarantee that any official or department will acknowledge, respond to, or act upon any submission.
• Discretion of Authorities: All outcomes—including meetings, resolutions, or investigations—are at the sole and absolute discretion of the relevant public authority.
• Timelines: We disclaim any liability for delays in the administrative process of third-party authorities.

4. ELIGIBILITY & USER CONDUCT

Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years of age or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction to create an account.
Verification: You agree to provide accurate, current, and truthful information. Use of pseudonyms or impersonation is a material breach of these Terms.
Lawful Use: You shall not use the Platform for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these Terms.

5. USER-GENERATED CONTENT (UGC)

"Content" includes complaints, reports, media, and text submitted by you.

• License Grant: While you retain ownership, you grant us a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, process, and transmit your Content to relevant authorities for the fulfillment of the service.
• User Veracity: You represent and warrant that all Content submitted is factually accurate. Submitting knowingly false or malicious allegations against public officials may result in civil and criminal penalties under Indian law (including but not limited to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

6. PROHIBITED CONTENT & MODERATION

In accordance with the IT Rules, 2021, you shall not host, display, upload, or share any information that:

1. Belongs to another person without authorization.
2. Is grossly harmful, defamatory, obscene, or promotes hate speech.
3. Is misleading or constitutes misinformation.
4. Threatens the unity, integrity, or security of India.
5. Contains political propaganda or coordinated inauthentic behavior.

MODERATION RIGHTS: We reserve the right to review, flag, or remove Content and suspend accounts at our sole discretion, without prior notice, upon receipt of a valid removal order from a court or government agency, or for internal policy violations.

7. INTERMEDIARY SAFE HARBOR

CiViC Bharat claims full protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. We are not liable for any third-party information, data, or communication link made available or hosted by us. We do not initiate the transmission, select the receiver of the transmission, or select/modify the information contained in the transmission.

8. DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY

Data processing is governed by our Privacy Policy and is compliant with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA).

• Purpose Limitation: Data is shared with public authorities solely for the purpose of grievance facilitation.
• Lawful Processing: You consent to the processing of your data for the performance of a task in the public interest or the exercise of any function under any law in India.

9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The Platform's design, proprietary routing logic, logos, and UI/UX are the exclusive intellectual property of CiViC Bharat. No part of the Platform may be scraped, reverse-engineered, or reproduced without express written consent.

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, CIVIC BHARAT, ITS FOUNDERS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO US (IF ANY) IN THE PRECEDING THREE MONTHS.

11. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless CiViC Bharat against any and all claims, damages, or legal fees arising from your breach of these Terms, the inaccuracy of your Content, or your violation of any third-party rights.

12. TERMINATION

We may terminate or suspend your access immediately for any breach of these Terms. Provisions regarding IP, Disclaimers, Liability, and Governing Law shall survive such termination.

13. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

14. GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL

For any complaints regarding Content or Platform violations, please contact:
Grievance Officer: Statutory Compliance Lead
Email: compliance@civicbharat.in
Address: Infinity Plaza, Bengaluru, India

Response Time: We aim to acknowledge grievances within 24 hours and resolve them within 15 days.