JOIN USThe elections to the Indian Olympic Association later this month will be held under the Sports Code of the government while the constitution and bye-laws of the IOA would to be used only as a supporting factor.
This was decided at the meeting of Election Commission constituted for the IOA polls, headed by former Chief Election Commissioner of India S Y Qureshi, on November 3 here.
Justice (Retired) V K Bali, Returning Officer and member of the IOA Election Commission, issued a statement on Tuesday saying that “wherever there are specific provisions governing the elections in the Sports Code of the Government of India, these will be applicable”.
“If any provision is silent as to the process of elections, the provisions of constitution/ memorandum/bye-laws of the IOA will be applicable. Whenever there is a conflict in the provisions of the Sports Code of the Government of India and constitution/memorandum/bye-laws as to the process of the elections, the provisions of the Sports Code will be applicable,” Justice Bali said in his direction to the IOA acting president V K Malhotra.
Justice Bali also noted the Delhi High Court order on September 13 in a pending case filed by lawyer Rahul Mehra that the IOA elections “shall be held after compliance of the provisions of the constitution/memorandum/bye-laws of the IOA as well as the Sports Code of the Government of India”.
The Returning Officer also notified the election schedule with electoral college to be published on Wednesday while the filing of nominations will be till 2.00 pm on November 10.
The nomination forms will have to be submitted at the office of the returning officer by hand or by registered post. Scrutiny will be done on the afternoon of November 10 and withdrawal of nominations can be done till 5.00 pm on November 16. The final list of candidates will be prepared on November 17.
The elections will be held just after the Annual General Body Meeting on November 25 and will be of three-hour duration. The International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia are also expeted to send their observer for the elections.