Decks cleared for archery body’s polls

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 18

The Delhi High Court has finally cleared the decks for the much-delayed Archery Association of India elections. Hearing on the petition filed by sports lawyer Rahul Mehra, Justice S Muralidhar and Najmi Waziri have appointed Rakesh Mehta as the Returning Officer for the AAI elections, final date of which will be declared at a later date. Friday's order has also set a deadline for Mehta to collate the Electoral College by November 30.

The state bodies have been told to send the names of two representatives, those who will take part in the elections, to Mehta within a week. Also names of three former India internationals — Limba Ram, Dola Banerjee and Chekrovolu Swuro — and Dronacharya awardee Sanjeeva Singh have been cleared to join the general council. However they will not have any voting rights.

Importantly, as reported by The Tribune on September 11, the elections will be held as per the AAI constitution that was cleared by the Supreme Court on May 1, 2019. In that order, the Supreme Court had said: “The newly-elected body, after taking over the office, shall move a proposal for further amendment of the constitution to bring it in line with the National Sports Code and that process be taken to its logical end expeditiously.” A compliance report was to be submitted to the High Court after the completion of the elections before the High Court. 

Subsequently, the IOA got a favourable verdict in the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition that overruled High Court's directive. The May 1, 2019 order had set aside the election held under the watchful of eyes of former chief election officer Dr SY Quraishi.