Indian Olympic Association elections on November 25

Under pressure from International Olympic Committee (IOC) to announce its elections before September 25, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday set November 25 as the D-Day.

Briefing media persons after its executive board meeting here on Monday, IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra termed the sports ministry’s directive to adhere to the age and tenure guidelines as “illegal and unconstitutional”, adding that the IOA would challenge any unfavourable ruling in the Supreme Court. The case comes up in the Delhi High Court on October 15.

“Show me a law which forces the IOA to implement these guidelines? The government has failed to enact any law in Parliament and has kept the new sports bill on the backburner,” Malhotra said. “The high court case against ministry’s guidelines is coming up for hearing on October 15. We have the option of moving the Supreme Court,” he added.

Accusing the ministry of misleading the public that the high court had ruled in favour of adhering to the age and tenure guidelines, he said, “This is completely wrong. The high court had simply said that the IOA can hold elections by taking into account its rules, bye-laws and decision of the government courts. Sport is a state subject and the central government has no power to enact any law. Besides, the IOC can even derecognise India if the government tries to force these guidelines on us.”

He said that IOC had only sought information on the election date and voting rights of majority of the National Sports Federations and these issues were being addressed. Asked if the IOA has any objections to the IOC’s suggestion of sending observers, Malhotra chose his words carefully.

“We’ve have written to the IOC that India should not be singled out in this regard. But we have no objection if they send observers,” he said. He, however, clearly signalled that the IOA can ill-afford to confront the international body and will have to adhere by its rules and regulations.