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IOA election should strictly follow sports code says Supreme Court
Narinder Batra, president of hockey’s world governing body, is the only nomination for the post of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president, while Rajeev Mehta, the president of Fencing Federation of India, is the lone candidate for the post of secretary-general.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections after advocate and well-known sports activist Rahul Mehra sought an interim stay on the poll process on the ground that it was being held in violation of the Sports Code. The Bench also clarified that the election process and its result will be subject to the final outcome of the application pending before the court.
The election for the post of president and secretary-general will be held unopposed. Narinder Batra, president of hockey’s world governing body, is the only nomination for the post of president, while Rajeev Mehta, the president of Fencing Federation of India, is the lone candidate for the post of secretary-general.
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The court observed that the national Olympic committee should strictly follow the Sports Code.
This, however, dashed the hopes of Mukesh Kumar, president of Judo Federation of India (JFI) to become the IOA treasurer. He was among three candidates contesting for the post.
JFI was derecognised by the sports ministry in 2015 for violating tenure clause. After serving as JFI secretary-general for three terms of four years (2001 to 2013), instead of taking a break of one term of four years, he became president. The office-bearers of the JFI will also not be eligible to cast their votes.
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Since Archery Association of India was also derecognised by the government in 2012 for violating the Sports Code on age, it can’t play any role in the IOA polls. The court has also stated that IOA should include sportspersons in its executive council. “The number should be minimum 25 per cent,” said Rahul Mehra.
