NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court On Monday, he announced that he would appoint a neutral person to lead the administration of the Indian Olympic Association and led the secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports to interact with the International Olympic Committee on the matter.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on September 8 issued a final warning to the IOA to “resolve its governance issues” and hold elections by December, failing which the world sports body will ban India.
The IOC Executive Board, which met in Lausanne, Switzerland, had also decided not to recognize any “acting/interim president” following the ousting of Narinder Batra as president of the Indian Olympic Association and said she would deal with the general secretary. Rajeev Mehta as the main point of contact.
A panel made up of judges DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli asked the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to interact with the Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations of the International Olympic Committee.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehtarepresenting the Centre, suggested that a former Supreme Court Justice be appointed to amend the Indian Olympic Committee Constitution, prepare an electoral college and organize elections.
“The second suggestion is that the governance of the administration can be entrusted to a neutral person who will coordinate with the International Olympic Committee in accordance with the letter dated September 8, 2022 from the IOC.
“The IOC has proposed a joint meeting on September 27, 2022 in Lausanne and it is necessary for someone to coordinate with the IOC in close consultation. To facilitate this exercise, we have requested the Solicitor General and indicated that the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports is interacting with the Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations within the International Olympic Committee and will return to this court at the next registration date,” the bench said.
The High Court will now hear the case on September 22.
The IOC letter sent by James McLeod, Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations, stated: “During this period of transition, and given that the IOC does not currently recognize any ‘Interim/Interim President of the Indian NOC , the NOC Secretary General will serve as the main point of contact to coordinate next steps with the IOC, in close consultation and in agreement with the NOC Executive Board and General Assembly.”
The IOC had also declared that its Executive Board reserved the right to take any other action at any stage of the process depending on the evolution of the situation.
It had also decided to postpone its previous session which was to be held in Mumbai in May next year. “In view of the uncertain situation, the IOC Session to be held in Mumbai in May 2023 is postponed to September/October 2023,” the letter said.
The IOC had also threatened to suspend the IOA if it did not proceed with its election as soon as possible.
The AIO elections were scheduled for December last year but could not take place due to amendments in the voting process.
Last December, the IOA formed a six-member committee to consider changes to its constitution ahead of an election to bring it into line with the National Sports Code.
In May this year, Batra was removed from his position as the head of the IOA after the Delhi High Court overturned Hockey India’s ‘lifetime membership’, through which he contested and won the election of supreme body in 2017.
Batra then officially resigned as President of the AIO. After being impeached by the High Court, Batra issued a statement announcing his decision not to contest the AIO elections.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on September 8 issued a final warning to the IOA to “resolve its governance issues” and hold elections by December, failing which the world sports body will ban India.
The IOC Executive Board, which met in Lausanne, Switzerland, had also decided not to recognize any “acting/interim president” following the ousting of Narinder Batra as president of the Indian Olympic Association and said she would deal with the general secretary. Rajeev Mehta as the main point of contact.
A panel made up of judges DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli asked the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to interact with the Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations of the International Olympic Committee.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehtarepresenting the Centre, suggested that a former Supreme Court Justice be appointed to amend the Indian Olympic Committee Constitution, prepare an electoral college and organize elections.
“The second suggestion is that the governance of the administration can be entrusted to a neutral person who will coordinate with the International Olympic Committee in accordance with the letter dated September 8, 2022 from the IOC.
“The IOC has proposed a joint meeting on September 27, 2022 in Lausanne and it is necessary for someone to coordinate with the IOC in close consultation. To facilitate this exercise, we have requested the Solicitor General and indicated that the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports is interacting with the Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations within the International Olympic Committee and will return to this court at the next registration date,” the bench said.
The High Court will now hear the case on September 22.
The IOC letter sent by James McLeod, Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations, stated: “During this period of transition, and given that the IOC does not currently recognize any ‘Interim/Interim President of the Indian NOC , the NOC Secretary General will serve as the main point of contact to coordinate next steps with the IOC, in close consultation and in agreement with the NOC Executive Board and General Assembly.”
The IOC had also declared that its Executive Board reserved the right to take any other action at any stage of the process depending on the evolution of the situation.
It had also decided to postpone its previous session which was to be held in Mumbai in May next year. “In view of the uncertain situation, the IOC Session to be held in Mumbai in May 2023 is postponed to September/October 2023,” the letter said.
The IOC had also threatened to suspend the IOA if it did not proceed with its election as soon as possible.
The AIO elections were scheduled for December last year but could not take place due to amendments in the voting process.
Last December, the IOA formed a six-member committee to consider changes to its constitution ahead of an election to bring it into line with the National Sports Code.
In May this year, Batra was removed from his position as the head of the IOA after the Delhi High Court overturned Hockey India’s ‘lifetime membership’, through which he contested and won the election of supreme body in 2017.
Batra then officially resigned as President of the AIO. After being impeached by the High Court, Batra issued a statement announcing his decision not to contest the AIO elections.