E-Paper
BAI drags feet over Verma
The Badminton Association of India has opted to drag its feet on the future of its president V.K. Verma by deciding to set up a Constitution review committee to look into proposed changes in the election procedure and tenure of office-bearers.
The Badminton Association of India has opted to drag its feet on the future of its president V.K. Verma by deciding to set up a Constitution review committee to look into proposed changes in the election procedure and tenure of office-bearers.
The decision was taken at an Extraordinary General Body meeting of the apex governing body on Monday. BAI was forced to call for the meeting after the sports ministry issued a notice asking them to amend their constitution -- in line with the tenure clause in the government guidelines issued on May 1, 2010 -- within 90 days and hold re-elections since Verma has been at the helm for over 14 years now. The deadline expires on February 11.
Though Verma declined comment citing a Supreme Court order, sources confirmed that a seven-member committee to be headed by West Bengal state association president Ushanath Banerjee is expected to submit its recommendations by April following which the executive council will decide on the further course of action.
Though states like Uttarakhand and Karnataka demanded the immediate resignation of Verma, most officials felt no "hasty" decision should be taken before the hearing in the Supreme Court on February 10 in the case challenging Verma's election.
"The basic idea is to wait for the Supreme Court hearing. If the Court uphelds the guidelines then Verma will go. Otherwise there will be no need for a re-election," said a state association official who attended the meeting.
Most associations have supported this move since the BAI constitution stipulates that all the tenure clauses will automatically be applicable to the states. That would mean many state officials would also have to relinquish their posts.
