In a strongly-worded letter, Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) president PT Usha has accused the sports activities ministry of interfering within the affairs of nationwide federations and thus “undermining the credibility of sports activities governance”, citing a number of examples, together with the contentious Indian Golf Union elections, to assist her claims.
Shut on heels of the ministry pulling up the IOA for recognising the Indian Golf Union (IGU) elections received by the Harish Kumar Shetty-led faction, Usha stated sports activities minister Mansukh Mandaviya will not be being “correctly apprised” of varied vital points regarding nationwide federations, together with the contentious IGU polls.
In a letter dated January 2 and signed by the beneath secretary, the ministry stated the IOA’s act of in accordance recognition to Shetty’ faction can “create avoidable duplication and confusion” which can not stand up to authorized scrutiny.
In her reply addressed to Mandaviya, Usha stated, “The style wherein this letter has been issued seems procedurally incorrect and displays an absence of verification of the information on document and a whole non software of thoughts by the Underneath Secretary.
“Sir, since I’ve assumed workplace within the lOA, it has grow to be an increasing number of obvious that the workers of the Ministry intentionally by no means appraises the true and proper information to the Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports activities.” Copies of the letter have been additionally marked to the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOA) and Worldwide Golf Federation. Two Annual Common Conferences (AGMs) have been held on December 15 to elect the brand new IGU office-bearers — one on the India Habitat Centre (IHC) the place Brijinder Singh was re-elected president with retired Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket decide, Rameshwar Malik, because the Returning Officer, and the opposite on the Olympic Bhawan, the place Shetty was elected with Justice OP Garg (Retd) because the RO.
The IOA stated it gave recognition to the faction led by Shetty after having “reviewed the information” and “examined the procedural adherence” of the contentious polls however the ministry took a stern view of the transfer made by nation’s apex sports activities physique.
Nonetheless, Usha stated the physique recognised by the ministry “didn’t meet the quorum necessities as stipulated beneath Article 22 of the IGU Structure”.
“This particular provision mandates the presence of a minimal 10 variety of State Golf Associations (SGAs) for a legitimate Annual Common Assembly (AGM).
“The popularity of this faction, regardless of the participation of solely 09 (9) out of the 31 (Thirty One) recognised SGAs as on the date of graduation of the election course of, renders the conduct of the AGM and subsequent elections void,” Usha wrote.
“Regardless of the presence of the Ministry appointed Observer on the stated AGM wherein the minimal quorum for conducting elections was not even remotely met, the explanations for illegal endorsement of the election to the minority faction of the IGU by the Ministry will not be understood.
“It’s on document, that the AGM and election of IGU held beneath Justice OP Garg (Retd) held on 15 December 2024 on the Olympic Bhavan, New Delhi had an attendance of 21 out of the overall 31 SGA’s.
“Subsequently, because the requisite quorum was met and a legitimate assembly held in accordance with the byelaws/structure of the IGU, the lOA has deemed the election of the workplace bearers of the GU at this assembly as legitimate and accorded recognition to the brand new workplace bearers of the IGU.” Usha stated as as per established norms, no workplace bearer ought to intrude as soon as the election course of has commenced, however Brijinder did so within the IGU polls in accordance with the IOA chief.
Responding to the ministry’s issues that the IOA recognition on the IGU elections violate the Nationwide Sports activities Code, Usha stated “these issues seem unfounded”.
Usha identified that nationwide sports activities federations (NSFs) resembling equestrian, yachting and so on., which have didn’t conduct elections after completion of their time period virtually three years again, proceed to take pleasure in recognition from the ministry, in clear violation of the NSDC 2011.
She additionally cited as instance the matter involving the Wrestling Federation of India and the Haryana Wrestling Affiliation within the Supreme Court docket.
“It’s troubling that the Ministry has positioned undue emphasis on the mere updating of the Worldwide Golf Federation (IGF) web site as a foundation for granting recognition to the faction of IGU. Such reliance on superficial elements can’t be the inspiration for granting recognition to a Nationwide Sports activities Federation.” Searching for to deliver to his consideration “the inconsistency displayed within the ministry’s actions”, Usha stated, “Whereas the popularity of this IGU faction has been expedited primarily based on an incomplete report, the elections of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), carried out in December 2023 beneath the orders of the Apex Court docket and duly acknowledged by Worldwide Federation of Wrestling i.e. United World Wrestling (UWW) and likewise by the Indian Olympic Affiliation (IA), proceed to face delays in recognition by the Ministry.
“WFI has continued to pick and ship its groups for all worldwide occasions of UWW and for the Olympic Video games, regardless of the identical the Ministry nonetheless holding again its recognition for unknown causes since December 2023.
“This has been nothing however an try and intrude within the autonomy of the NSFs by the MYAS, regardless of there being many warnings by the UWW and the IOC together with clear instructions to the lOA to not intrude within the WFI affairs and no ad-hoc committee for WFI shall be recognised by the UWW and IOC.” In its final letter, the ministry had suggested the IOA to stick to the Olympic constitution, assessment the matter, and take applicable measures to make sure the sleek functioning of the governing physique.
Nonetheless, Usha asserted that her physique has adopted the structure earlier than arriving on the resolution to accord recognition to the Shetty-led faction within the IGU elections.
“…The electoral faculty ready by an outgoing President of the IGU is conflicted as a lot as he was contesting for an elected submit within the elections to be held on 15 December 2024. Extra importantly, the Electoral School needed to be ready by the Returning Officer and never by any workplace bearer of the IGU.
“It’s also held by many courts that the Electoral School and member disputes are to be determined by the Returning Officer and never by the outgoing President of the NSF.” Usha additionally reiterated that “illegally elected workplace bearers proceed to be an element” IOA government council because the ministry has “not taken any motion” to make sure compliance.
“In gentle of those points, I urge the Ministry to take corrective motion to make sure adherence to the rules of transparency, accountability, and compliance with the NSDC 2011 and recall its letter dated 28 December 2024, granting recognition to the unlawful elections to the faction of IGU which didn’t meet the necessary quorum for conduct of an AGM as required by its personal Structure.
“The selective software of norms undermines the credibility of sports activities governance in India and the spirit of honest play that we purpose to uphold. I sit up for your intervention to deal with these issues on the earliest,” Usha signed off.
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