Effective Date: December 19, 2025 | Last Updated: December 19, 2025
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING KARUNA NIDHAN. By accessing, downloading, installing, or using the Karuna Nidhan mobile application and website (collectively, "the Platform"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use our Platform.
Karuna Nidhan is a community-driven technology platform that enables users to report injured animals, facilitates coordination between rescuers/NGOs/volunteers, and promotes awareness about animal welfare across India. We provide information, coordination tools, and a marketplace for connecting citizens, rescuers, and animal welfare organizations.
1.2 Critical: What Karuna Nidhan Is NOT
Important Disclaimer - Platform Limitation
NOT a Rescue Provider: We do not provide rescue services, medical care, or direct intervention for injured animals
NOT a Veterinary Service: We do not provide veterinary advice or medical diagnosis
NOT an Authority: We do not replace government authorities, animal control, or official emergency services
NOT a Liability Carrier: We accept no responsibility for rescue outcomes or consequences of rescue operations
NOT an Insurance Provider: We do not guarantee compensation for injuries or losses during rescue efforts
NOT Liable for Emergency Response Time: We do not guarantee response times or rescuer availability
1.3 Intermediary Classification
Under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Intermediary Guidelines, Karuna Nidhan functions as a "Technology Intermediary" or "Marketplace Intermediary." We provide neutral technological infrastructure to enable information exchange but do not:
Endorse or guarantee the quality of rescue services provided by third parties
Take responsibility for content posted by users (subject to Section 79 safe harbor provisions)
Provide direct rescue or veterinary services
Guarantee successful outcomes of rescue operations
2. Eligibility & User Requirements
2.1 Age Requirement
Minimum Age: You must be at least 18 years old to create an account
Minor Restrictions: Users under 18 require parental/guardian consent
Age Verification: We reserve the right to verify age and remove accounts of ineligible users
2.2 Capacity & Legal Status
By using Karuna Nidhan, you represent that you:
Are of legal age to enter into binding agreements in India
Have the legal capacity to enter into contracts
Are not prohibited from using our services under Indian or international law
Are not listed as a terrorist, criminal, or dangerous person in any database
Will not use the Platform to commit any illegal act
2.3 Account Registration
Accuracy: All information provided must be accurate, current, and complete
Single Account: Each user may maintain only one account
Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of your credentials
Unauthorized Use: You are liable for all activities conducted under your account
3. Your Obligations & Responsibilities
3.1 User Conduct Standards
As a user of Karuna Nidhan, you commit to:
Lawful Use Only: Use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable laws
Accurate Reporting: Provide truthful, accurate information in all rescue reports
No Harassment: Not to harass, threaten, defame, abuse, or threaten any individual
No Misinformation: Not to submit false or misleading rescue reports or animal information
Respect Privacy: Respect the privacy and rights of all users and third parties
3.2 Specific Prohibitions for Rescue Reports
No False Reports: Do not submit reports about non-existent animals or injuries
No Location Misrepresentation: Do not provide false or misleading location information
No Prank Reports: Do not submit reports as pranks, jokes, or tests
No Private Property Trespassing: Do not encourage rescuers to trespass on private property
Accurate Urgency Assessment: Accurately indicate severity and urgency of animal condition
3.3 Photo and Media Submission Requirements
Your Responsibilities When Uploading Media:
Original Content: You own or have permission to share all photos and media
No Copyright Violations: Do not infringe copyrights or intellectual property rights
No Privacy Violations: Do not include identifying information of individuals without consent
Genuine Documentation: Photos must genuinely document the situation being reported
No Manipulated Images: Do not submit edited, filtered, or AI-generated images as real documentation
Full Legal Responsibility: You accept complete legal responsibility for all uploaded media
3.4 CSAM & Exploitation Prohibition
Zero Tolerance for Child Exploitation Material
You absolutely must NOT:
Upload, share, distribute, or possess Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)
Engage in grooming, solicitation, or exploitation of minors
Create, produce, or facilitate child exploitation in any form
Link to, reference, or attempt to circumvent CSAM detection systems
Violation Consequences: Immediate account termination, permanent ban, and reporting to law enforcement
3.5 Data & Privacy Responsibility
Your Data = Your Responsibility: You control what data you provide to Karuna Nidhan
Informed Consent: By providing location data, you consent to its use for rescue coordination
Third-Party Data: Do not provide contact information or data of others without their consent
Data Accuracy: You are responsible for accuracy of personal information you provide
3.6 Rescue Participation Responsibilities
If you participate as a rescuer or volunteer:
Legal Compliance: Comply with all laws when conducting rescue operations
No Trespassing: Obtain permission before entering private property
Safety First: Prioritize personal safety and do not take unreasonable risks
Professional Conduct: Maintain professional and respectful conduct with all parties
Documentation: Maintain accurate records of rescue efforts and outcomes
4. Intellectual Property Rights
4.1 Karuna Nidhan IP Ownership
All content, design, code, trademarks, logos, and intellectual property on Karuna Nidhan Platform ("Our IP") are owned by or licensed to Karuna Nidhan and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
4.2 User-Generated Content License
By submitting content (photos, reports, messages) to Karuna Nidhan, you grant us:
A worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to use your content for platform operations
The right to display your content to facilitate rescue coordination
The right to analyze your data for platform improvement and safety
Rights necessary to comply with law and prevent abuse
4.3 Your Content Ownership
You retain ownership of all photos and content you upload
You grant us necessary rights for platform functionality
You can request deletion of your content (with exceptions for legal obligations)
4.4 Restrictions on Platform Use
You may not:
Modify, adapt, or create derivative works from our Platform
Reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble the application
Copy or duplicate our code, design, or functionality
Use our trademarks, logos, or branding without permission
Remove or obscure copyright and ownership notices
5. Prohibited Conduct & Content
5.1 Strictly Prohibited Activities
The following activities are strictly prohibited and may result in legal action:
CSAM and Child Exploitation: Any involvement with child sexual abuse material
Hacking and Unauthorized Access: Attempting to access systems without authorization
Malware Distribution: Distributing viruses, malware, or harmful code
Fraud and Deception: Fraudulent activity, identity theft, or impersonation
Threats and Violence: Threatening harm to any person or animal
Harassment and Abuse: Persistent harassment or abusive behavior
Illegal Sales: Selling illegal drugs, weapons, or restricted items
False Reporting: Submitting false rescue reports or animal information
Animal Cruelty Promotion: Promoting animal abuse or neglect
Extortion and Blackmail: Attempting to extort money or favors
5.2 Prohibited Content Types
You must not submit content that:
Sexual Content: Explicit sexual content or pornography
Violent Content: Graphic violence, gore, or disturbing imagery (except where necessary for documentation)
Hateful Content: Promotes discrimination, hatred, or violence against any group
Misinformation: Deliberately false or misleading information
Personal Information: Non-consensual sharing of private information (doxxing)
Spam: Unsolicited commercial messages or advertising
Intellectual Property Violations: Content violating copyright or trademark
5.3 Rescue Operation Misuse
Do not submit false reports to waste rescuer resources
Do not use the platform for non-rescue purposes (selling animals, promoting businesses)
Do not coordinate animal trafficking or exploitation through the platform
Do not use location data to harass or stalk individuals
Karuna Nidhan qualifies as a "Neutral Technology Intermediary" under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This section provides safe harbor protection for intermediaries, provided we:
Act in Good Faith: We exercise reasonable care in moderating content
Don't Initiate Content: We do not create or initiate third-party user content
Don't Select Users: We do not specially select users for transmission of content
Don't Modify Content: We do not intentionally modify content transmitted by users
Comply with Legal Requirements: We comply with law enforcement requests and MEITY guidelines
Maintain Grievance Mechanism: We maintain a process for addressing user complaints
Safe Harbor Application:
Under Section 79, Karuna Nidhan is not liable for user-generated content submitted by third parties, provided we comply with safe harbor conditions. This means:
We are not liable for accuracy, legality, or propriety of user-submitted rescue reports
We are not liable for false information provided by users
We are not liable for consequences of rescue operations conducted by third parties
We are not liable for user-to-user communications or coordination
6.2 Comprehensive Disclaimer of Warranties
AS IS BASIS - NO WARRANTIES
Karuna Nidhan is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without any warranties:
No Warranty of Accuracy: We do not warrant accuracy of rescue report information
No Warranty of Rescue Success: We do not guarantee rescue operations will be successful
No Warranty of Availability: We do not warrant continuous or uninterrupted service availability
No Warranty of Safety: We do not warrant user safety during rescue operations
No Warranty of Timeliness: We do not guarantee response times or rescuer availability
No Warranty of Quality: We do not guarantee quality of rescue services provided by third parties
No Warranty of FITNESS: We provide no warranty of fitness for any particular purpose
No Warranty of NON-INFRINGEMENT: We do not warrant Platform is free from third-party claims
6.3 Limitation of Liability
COMPLETE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
To the maximum extent permitted by Indian law:
No Liability for Damages: Karuna Nidhan is not liable for any damages arising from use of the Platform
No Liability for Lost Data: We are not liable for loss of data, photos, or rescue information
No Liability for Rescue Outcomes: We are not liable for failures, delays, or poor outcomes of rescue operations
No Liability for Animal Harm: We are not liable for injury to animals or death during rescue attempts
No Liability for Human Injury: We are not liable for injuries to rescuers or other individuals
No Liability for Third-Party Actions: We are not liable for actions of NGOs, volunteers, or other users
No Liability for Service Interruptions: We are not liable for downtime or service interruptions
Indirect Damages Excluded: We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
6.4 User Indemnity Obligation
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Karuna Nidhan, its founders, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from:
Your violation of these Terms and Conditions
Your use of the Platform in violation of applicable law
Your submission of false or defamatory content
Your violation of third-party rights
Your participation in rescue operations
Accidents or injuries arising from rescue activities you coordinate or participate in
Response Time: Within 72 hours for acknowledgment; 30 days for resolution
7.2 Complaint Categories Accepted
Removal of illegal or prohibited content
Complaints about user conduct or harassment
CSAM and child safety concerns
Copyright and IP infringement claims
Privacy violations or data breaches
Account suspension or termination appeals
Platform abuse or technical issues
7.3 Complaint Filing Process
Send complaint to grievance officer with detailed description
Include evidence, screenshots, or documentation
Receive acknowledgment within 72 hours
Complaint reviewed within 30-day period
Resolution decision communicated in writing
Appeals process available if unsatisfied
7.4 Governing Law & Jurisdiction
Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of India, without regard to conflicts of law principles
Jurisdiction: Disputes are subject to jurisdiction of courts in India
Venue: Specific venue may be determined based on nature of claim
7.5 Dispute Resolution Process
Informal Resolution: First attempt to resolve through grievance mechanism (30 days)
Mediation: If unresolved, parties may pursue mediation
Arbitration/Litigation: If still unresolved, either party may pursue legal action
7.6 Limitations Period
No legal action regarding Karuna Nidhan Platform may be brought more than one (1) year after the cause of action arises, except where prohibited by law.
8. Amendments & Modifications
8.1 Right to Modify Terms
Karuna Nidhan reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Material changes will be notified to users by:
Email notification to registered email address
In-app notification
Prominent notice on the Platform
8.2 Continued Use = Acceptance
If you continue using the Platform after modifications are posted, you accept the modified Terms. If you disagree with modifications, you must stop using the Platform.
8.3 Effective Date
These Terms become effective immediately upon posting and apply to all current and future users.
8.4 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.