New Delhi: Pointing to procedural lapses by the Sports activities Ministry in granting recognition to Brijinder Singh-led Indian Golf Union, Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) president PT Usha has urged Sports activities Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to “recall” the order.
Indian Olympic Affiliation president PT Usha. (PTI)
IGU elections have been shrouded in controversy as two polls and AGMs have been held on December 15 underneath separate returning officers. Whereas Usha has granted ‘recognition’ to Harish Shetty’s group, the sports activities ministry has backed Singh’s faction through a letter signed by Underneath Secretary Tarun Pareek.
Stating her causes for recognising Shetty’s panel, Usha argued that his election, held underneath the supervision of Justice (retd) OP Garg as a Returning Officer, had 21 out of 31 State Golf Associations (SGAs) in attendance whereas Singh’s group had participation solely from 9 SGAs.
“Since the requisite quorum was met and a valid meeting held in accordance with the byelaws / constitution of the IGU, the IOA has deemed the election of the Office Bearers of the IGU at this meeting as valid and accorded recognition to the new Office Bearers of the IGU,” she wrote.
The IOA president additionally invoked Article 22 of the IGU Structure to buttress her argument. “This specific provision mandates the presence of a minimum 10 SGAs for a valid Annual General Meeting (AGM),” the letter famous.
Usha additionally skilled her weapons on Pareek and known as his December 28 letter granting recognition to Singh’s panel “procedurally incorrect.”
“The manner in which this letter has been issued appears procedurally incorrect and reflects a lack of verification of the facts on record and a complete non-application of mind by the Under Secretary,” she wrote.
Responding to the ministry’s issues that IOA’s recognition of IGU elections violates the Nationwide Sports activities Code, Usha mentioned the “concerns appear unfounded”.
Usha additionally famous that NSFs reminiscent of equestrian and yachting have did not conduct elections after completion of their time period virtually three years again however proceed to take pleasure in recognition in clear violation of sports activities code.
“It is troubling that the Ministry has placed undue emphasis on mere updating of the International Golf Federation (IGF) website as a basis for granting recognition to the faction of IGU. Such reliance on superficial factors cannot be the foundation for granting recognition to a National Sports Federation.”
“The selective application of norms undermines the credibility of sports governance in India and the spirit of fair play that we aim to uphold. I look forward to your intervention to address these concerns at the earliest,” she concluded.