Supreme Court tells archery association to hold fresh polls in four weeks
The AAI elections were always been disputed after no observer was in attendance from either Indian Olympic Association or sports ministry
The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the Archery Association of India (AAI) constitution as amended by Delhi High Court-appointed administrator SY Quraishi, and also the elections held on December 22, 2018.
The bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Ajay Rastogi ordered fresh elections within next four weeks. AAI president BVP Rao, who defeated Rupak Debroy of Tripura by 49 votes to 36, resigned from the top post saying: “I’m resigning to protest against the Indian sports system which doesn’t allow competent people to come in.”
The AAI elections were always been disputed after no observer was in attendance from either Indian Olympic Association (IOA) or sports ministry. In fact, IOA and sports ministry even wanted the elections to be postponed. But former chief election commissioner (CEC) was adamant on conducting the polls as per a SC’s directive.
The Apex court also relieved the administrator of his responsibilities and made some strong observation about the way he conducted elections.
“The administrator has no power to amend the constitution much less unilaterally, except for the four amendments approved by this court, for which no further formality was required to be undertaken. The administrator was obliged to conduct elections on the basis of such amended constitution in terms of the order of this court dated 4th December 2017. No more and no less,” the bench said.
Maha Singh was elected secretary while DK Vidyarthi was made treasurer in the said elections.
Relief for IOA
SC’s Wednesday orders have come as a relief for the IOA and the government both of whom wanted the compliance of 2011 National Sports Code.
Going by the senior IOA official “had the apex court given its stamp of approval for the new constitution, every other NSF would have come under pressure to change its constitution”.
IOA and ministry were of the opinion that Quraishi, like SC-appointed Justice Lodha panel, by barring barring public servants and going beyond the National Sports Code, was depriving the existing association members from participating in the election process.
The new AAI body was not recognised initially by the World Archery and even hinted at the possible suspension on the ground that “new constitution was never formally approved by the General Assembly”.
It was only after new president Rao visited the World Archery headquarters in Lausanne, and presented the minutes of the elective general assembly that the international body agree to recognise AAI as a member.
But the ministry refused to include AAI as a recognised body even after annual renewal in February citing flaws in constitution. Other NSFs left out of the annual recognition included Indian Golf Union, Gymnastics Federation of India and Taekwondo Federation of India.