IOA steps in after IGU postpones its election ‘indefinitely’

By Rahul Banerji

Indian Olympic Association president P.T Usha has advised the Indian Golf Union against postponing its election set for December 15 indefinitely citing the resignation of the returning officer.

Retired Allahabad High Court Justice O.P. Garg is the returning officer and earlier this week, suspended the membership of five state golf associations (SGAs) based on information provided by the IGU.

The original order was issued on the basis of a complaint lodged before Justice Garg by former IGU council member Shyam Sundar.

On Monday, Justice Garg suspended the Himachal Pradesh Proam GA, Arunachal Pradesh GA, Madhya Pradesh/Prant GA, Nagaland GA and Sikkim State GA from participating in the poll process citing a lack of response to his queries and associated documentation.

When representatives of three of the five SGAs – Lt. Gen. Bhavnish Kumar, Brig. Atul Rajput, Col. Gaurav Verma accompanied by IGU secretary Harish Shetty – met Justice Garg on Wednesday, he reversed the suspension order.

In doing so, he also noted that “The ex parte order was based on the information supplied by the IGU and the documents placed before me”.

Following the fresh order, the IGU said the election had been indefinitely postponed “after the resignation of the Returning Officer (RO) – Justice O P Garg, former judge of the Allahabad High Court”..

In her letter to the IGU president, P.T. Usha said, “…the process of elections once commenced should not be interfered with”, adding, “The IGU is thus directed to allow the election process to continue.”

Reproduced below is the full text of the missive to IGU president Brijinder Singh.

Dear President IGU,

I write with reference to the telephonic discussions we had today evening.

The Indian Olympic Association is happy to see that the Indian Golf Union’s elections are well underway in line with the provisions of their own Memorandum of Association, the National Sports Development Code as well as the extant orders of the Hon’ble Courts of India.

Please note that upon receiving representations regarding your recent decision to postpone the elections, keeping in mind principles of natural justice, I requested your stance on the matter at hand, especially that regarding the status of the Returning Officer.

Consequently, I even spoke to the Returning Officer and he confirmed to us that he has not resigned – which was also promptly brought to your notice.

However, shortly thereafter a press release was issued from the IGU stating that the elections were postponed due to the resignation of the Returning Officer.

This is in complete contradiction of our discussions where it was explicitly mentioned that once the process of elections has started, it should not be stopped.

It is also pertinent to note that an oral statement made during a heated conversation, especially regarding resignation of the Returning Officer, cannot and will not be accepted even by the Indian Olympic Association, let alone the Hon’ble Courts.

In this regard, I once again reiterate that the process of elections once commenced should not be interfered with, which has been the direction of the Hon’ble Courts in multiple orders as well. The IGU is thus directed to allow the election process to continue.

Notwithstanding the continuance of the election process, you are required to provide a written explanation on the entire election process up until now and the reasons for the sudden and unceremonious cancellation/ postponement of the IGU elections latest by 15.00 hrs on Monday i.e., 2. December 2024 (as requested by you during our telephonic discussions).

Needless to say, failure to provide a satisfactory response by the deadline provided hereinabove, will leave the Indian Olympic Association with no option but to take applicable recourse, including without limitation appointing an Ad-Hoc Committee to govern the IGU and conduct its elections as notified.

As always, it is my resolve to serve the country’s athletes striving to do their best for our country and in the process assist the National Sports Governing bodies achieve the same.

Looking forward to hearing from you in this regard!

Regards

P.T. Usha

Also read: Indian Golf Union elections to be held on December 15