IOA polls today, hearing on appeal a day later

The body’s election process and outcome will be subject to the final decision taken with respect to the application put forth by sports lawyer Rahul Mehra.

IOA president N Ramachandran (R)| File Photo

NEW DELHI: While the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will go to polls as scheduled on Thursday, the body’s election process and outcome will be subject to the final decision taken with respect to the application put forth by sports lawyer Rahul Mehra.

Mehra had sought an interim stay on the IOA elections on the ground that they were being held in violation of the National Sports Code. He also said before the Special Bench of the Delhi High Court that the body was in violation of its own constitution.

While the court refused to stop the election, it urged IOA to follow the Sports Code. A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Najmi Waziri directed the association not to violate the National Sports Code (NSC) during the electoral process.

“The court said considering the election is at the final step, they won’t like to interfere at this stage,” Mehra told Express. “However, they have put certain conditions. They have said it is mandatory for the IOA to follow the Sports Code, specially in relation to clause 3.20 of Annexure 2. This talks about guidelines of recognition of the federations.” The court will next hear the case on Friday.

Another thing the court asked the IOA to ensure is to have a minimum of 25% of eminent sportspersons in their executive councils with voting rights. Mehra alleges that the IOA does not satisfy these clauses right now. That’s why he is convinced that the IOA’s new office-bearers may not last long. “I have highlighted 5-7 things which they (IOA) do not follow as far as the Sports Code is concerned. I have also said to the court that it’s sad that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) is absolutely silent about all of this.”

Taking his charges at face value, the court shot a notice to both MYAS as well as the IOA asking them to respond to these allegations within four weeks.

“They (IOA) are violating various clauses of the Sports Code and their own constitution. That’s why the court has sent the MYAS and the IOA notices,” said Mehra.

What the court has asked the IOA to ensure at the election...

1 No de-recognised federation forms part of the electoral college (like judo federation).
2 Charge-sheeted members cannot form part of electoral college. This is in violation of IOA constitution.
3 At the time of declaration of results, it is subject to final decision taken on Rahul Mehra’s application.