The Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) has given recognition to the Indian Golf Union (IGU) led by Harish Kumar Reddy whereas declaring the opposite physique, headed by Brijinder Singh, void.
A letter signed by IOA president PT Usha issued on Monday said that the Nationwide Olympic Committee had “reviewed the info” and “examined the procedural adherence” earlier than recognising the physique headed by Reddy.
Two AGMs had been held on December 15 to elect the brand new IGU office-bearers — one on the India Habitat Centre (IHC) the place Singh was re-elected president with retired Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket choose, Rameshwar Malik, because the Returning Officer, and the opposite on the Olympic Bhawan, the place Reddy was elected with Justice OP Garg (Retd) because the RO.
In its letter, the IOA said the explanations for recognising the physique headed by Reddy, saying the Returning Officer, Justice Garg, had by no means resigned as alleged by the earlier set of IGU office-bearers.
“After an in depth research of the paperwork of two completely different AGM and elections held on the identical dates at two completely different venues in New Delhi, it’s concluded that the AGM and election carried out by the Returning Officer Justice OP Garg (Retd) is legitimate with many causes and a few of them are: “The Returning Officer, who was initially formally appointed had by no means resigned as alleged by the IGU and thus was the competed particular person to conduct the election as notified by IGU,” IOA mentioned within the letter.
Justice Garg, a retired choose of the Allahabad Excessive Court docket, was initially appointed the Returning Officer for the elections on December 15, following which he issued suspension orders to 5 “nearly non-existent” state associations on November 26.
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Subsequently, in an e-mail on November 28 to governing council members, Singh cited “unavoidable circumstances” for the postponement of the December 15 AGM.
The choice adopted Garg’s “resignation” as Returning Officer after a controversial reversal of his earlier order barring the 5 state associations from taking part within the polls.
IOA chief Usha had sought an evidence from Singh for his “sudden” choice to postpone the elections and mentioned strict motion, together with forming of an ad-hoc physique to conduct the polls, may very well be taken if his response was discovered “unsatisfactory”.
Singh then appointed former Chief Justice of the Sikkim Excessive Court docket, Permod Kohli, because the Returning Officer on December 3 to conduct the polls. However two days later, on December 5, Kohli resigned and Singh appointed Malik as the brand new RO.’
The IOA letter additional said that the AGM and election held on the Olympic Bhawan had the “required quorum in accordance with the Article 22 of the IGU guidelines”.
“A complete of 21 Member Items with 39 Representatives participated within the AGM and election held on 15.12.2024. The letter/report obtained accommodates all of the paperwork together with the attendance sheet duly signed by the attendees.
“After reviewing the info and inspecting the procedural adherence, the IOA recognises the election outcomes introduced by Justice (Retd) OP Garg on the AGM at Olympic Bhawan was legit.
“The IOA recognises the elected Governing Council of the IGU with the beneath office-bearers, Harish Kumar Shetty (President), Basant Kumar Repswal (Secretary Normal), Manoj Joshi (Hony treasurer).”