E-Paper
UPOA elections null and void
TUESDAY WITNESSED a major setback for both the factions of the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association when Office of Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits declared their identities null and void with immediate effect.
Deputy registrar becomes returning officer
TUESDAY WITNESSED a major setback for both the factions of the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association when Office of Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits declared their identities null and void with immediate effect.
Registrar Chakrapani in his one-page order on Tuesday made it clear that the recently held elections of both the factions do not fulfill the provisions of act 25(2) of 1860 Society Registration Act. "Therefore, both the elections are null and void. Now the rights of holding the elections lie with the registrar itself," the order reads.
The registrar, however, nominated the deputy registrar of firms, societies and chits as the returning officer for the elections. But he didn't frame any time limit for the elections.
Chakrapani announced his decision in the presence of the office-bearers of both the factions, and it was the maiden hearing of the case. Welcoming the order, general secretary of Dr Akhilesh Das-led faction, Anandeshwar Pandey said that he respected the order and then the right people would emerge victorious in the elections.
Pandey also faxed the registrar's order to the Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi and general secretary Randhir Singh on Tuesday afternoon.
Munawar Anzar, general secretary of Kalraj Mishra-led faction, claimed that he would discuss the order along with the other office-bearers within a few days to decide the further course of action.
It is learnt that one faction of the UPOA-backed by its former chief Sardar Mohd Aslam Khan had elected BJP MP Kalraj Mishra as their new chief at a meeting in Noida on October 6, while just two days later, the other faction elected Union Minister of State for Steel Dr Akhilesh Das as their chief in Lucknow on October 8. Both the factions staked their claims before the registrar of firms, societies and chits soon. Such a situation had cropped up even in 1995 when two political heavyweights of the State i.e. Jagdambika Pal and Lokpati Tripathi were pitted against each other for the top post. Later, Indian Olympic Association intervened and appointed an arbitrator Col N Kumar to conduct the elections.
Both the parties were made to sit together for discussions and under a pact Sardar Aslam Khan and Anandeshwar Pandey were elected president and secretary, respectively.
Meanwhile, the order of the registrar of firms, societies and chits has brought the much-expected cheers on the faces of the sportspersons. "Sportspersons were in a fix after the two factions held their elections, but now the things seem to be heading in the right directions," said former international athlete Bhunav Singh.
