IOA Elections: AGM on December 19 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra and urged the body to go ahead with their Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was scheduled to be held on December 19. Follow Live updates on InsideSport.IN
The letter, which is in possession of InsideSport, the IOC recognised that because of a court order the election might not go ahead as per plan on December 19. They also expressed their disappointment at the internal wrangles currently plaguing the IOA.
IOA Elections: IOC writes to Narinder Batra, IOA to hold AGM on Dec 19, complete elections by January – Check details
Also read: Lawyer Rahul Mehra says, Happy that HC’s decision on IOA election will come out soon
The IOC has urged the IOA to complete election formalities latest by January 2022 keeping in mind the four-year electoral cycle, in accordance with the IOA Constitution and Olympic Charter.
“We took note of the Court decision, which, of course, shall be respected. However, it is unfortunate that such institutional and internal issues could not be addressed and resolved directly within the IOA,” the letter stated.
IOA Elections: IOC writes to Narinder Batra, IOA to hold AGM on Dec 19, complete elections by January – Check details
“As things stand, we note that IOA elections can no longer be held on 19 December 2021, as planned initially, due to the Court order. However, unless otherwise indicated in the court order, we understand that UOA General Assembly can still take place on 19 December, 2021, with other items in the agenda that are not related to elections,” IOC wrote to Narinder Batra.
“The Elective General Assembly would then be rescheduled as early as possible and should take place by the end of January 2022, at the latest, in order to respect the four-year electoral cycle, in accordance with the IOA Constitution and the Olympic Charter.”
The 11.1.3 clause in the IOA constitution has been a major talking point due to its restrictive nature. It states that “only those members, who had held the office and were elected members in any of the preceding five Executive Council of the IOA, shall be eligible to contest the elections” for the posts of president and secretary-general.
IOA Elections: IOC writes to Narinder Batra, IOA to hold AGM on Dec 19, complete elections by January – Check details
The IOC also made it clear that if any amendments are to be made in the IOA constitution, it should be after following due process and also submitted to the IOC for their approval.
“As you know, any potential proposal to amend the IOA Constitution should simply follow due process, as per IOA Constitution, and be submitted to the IOC for prior approval and to the IOA General Assembly for adoption.”
The Division bench comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Najmi Waziri of the Delhi High Court had stayed the election to the executive committee of the IOA on a plea by senior advocate Rahul Mehra.
IOA Elections: IOC writes to Narinder Batra, IOA to hold AGM on Dec 19, complete elections by January – Check details
Mehra, in his application, has submitted that the proposed elections to be held on December 19 are wholly illegal and unsustainable and ought not to be conducted pending the hearing.
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