IOA election updates: Things are getting murkier with regards to the Indian Olympic Association elections. The division between the IOA president Narinder Batra and secretary general Rajeev Mehta is widening by the day. Both factions sent their own sets of lawyers as well as lawyers representing various NSFs and state Olympics Associations. Despite the presence of so many lawyers, the IOA has not been able to convince the court to complete the election process on December 19. Follow IOA election updates on InsideSport.IN
The election which was earlier supposed to take place on December 19 is unlikely to take place and the next date for the hearing on this matter is scheduled to be held on December 15 at the Delhi High Court.
IOA election updates: Delhi High Court’s stay to continue says petitioner Rahul Mehra
“Well, the situation remains the same. The stay had already been granted in the elections of the IOA because of various issues I had highlighted in my application. The matter was already going on as far as final arguments are concerned. Currently, the IOA lawyers both from the secretary and president have addressed the court. The further argument is on December 15,” petitioner Rahul Mehra told ANI.
He further added, “The status quo has been maintained so on December 19 there will be no elections. Different parties had come to the court — one is Mehta faction which doesn’t want elections because they probably don’t have the numbers. One is the Batra faction which wants the elections because the entire election has been doctored in a certain way. There are various other issues that I have highlighted which are contrary to the sports code, IOC charter, law of the land being the Supreme Court judgment, and the various affidavits by the Union of India.”
IOA election updates: Delhi High Court’s stay to continue says petitioner Rahul Mehra
“The order continues till further orders. The detailed reform process will hopefully kick in fast. These reforms have been pending for the last 10 years and I dare say since 1975 which is the last 50 years. Hopefully once and for all everything will be sorted as players’ representation will be there, the electoral process will be sorted. State Olympic Associations who are completely defunct bodies will not be there. One way or the other the issue will be sorted,” added Mehra.
The Division bench of the Delhi HC comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Najmi Waziri have heard the entire matter and they have blamed the IOA office bearers for the entire mess.
IOA is not new to controversy as they were suspended from the IOC back in 2014 and they requested the court to take a decision keeping India’s image in mind.
IOA election updates: Delhi High Court’s stay to continue says petitioner Rahul Mehra
“This is the last resort of these people when no argument impresses the court. They then play the national card and the court very rightly caught them on the wrong foot. The court was very clear that the entire menace is their creation. According to the court ‘Problem solvers cannot be problem creators’. They said that they should stop looking into their petty vested interest. Once the matter is brought into court, the court will adjudicate. So, do not blame the courts, you are the one to be blamed,” said Mehra.
IOA election updates: Delhi High Court’s stay to continue says petitioner Rahul Mehra
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