Chandigarh Olympic Association poll process challenged in HC

The Punjab and Haryana High court has issued notices to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Chandigarh Administration on a petition filed by the Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) challenging the process to elect office-bearers of the association. Issuing the notices to the respondents for January 14, Justice Suvir Sehgal said the election process shall continue and the results be declared, which shall be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.

In the petition filed through senior advocate Anand Chhibbar, along with advocate Vaibhav Sahni, the Chandigarh Olympic Association prayed for issuance of a writ for quashing the schedule for electing the office-bearers of the petitioner association, as direction was issued to conduct the elections in complete disregard to the HC order dated January 17, 2025.

The petitioner also prayed for quashing the final electoral roll for the November 21 elections, which has been prepared without adhering to the mandatory principles as provided under the relevant guidelines/

schedules/statutes and also without adhering to the list of members of the petitioner association. Further, it sought appropriate directions, thereby staying the entire elections process during the pendency of the present writ petition.

The petition says the writ petition is being instituted by Narinder Singh Thakur, who is duly authorised by and on behalf of the petitioner association through a resolution dated November 2 to assail the impugned election schedule.

Counsel for the Chandigarh Olympic Associationsaid despite the categorical directions issued by the High Court on January 17 — whereby the process of holding elections of the petitioner association was to be undertaken within the stipulated time frame — the order had not been complied with in letter and spirit.

No steps were initiated by the authorities concerned to ensure the conduct of elections. He also challenged the inclusion of 15 associations in the final electoral roll and said none of these are affiliated with or recognised by the petitioner association.

These associations have neither been granted formal membership nor have they undergone any process of scrutiny, verification or approval by the competent body of the petitioner association.

Their presence on the electoral roll is devoid of any statutory or constitutional basis and reflects a clear departure from the established norms governing representative participation.

Chhibbar said by extending electoral rights to non-member entities, the respondents have not only acted without jurisdiction but have also distorted the representative character of the petitioner association, thereby frustrating the very object of holding free, fair and transparent elections.

He submitted that as per the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, election of the office-bearers was to be held from existing members of the association. The Chandigarh Olympic Association provided list of 23 members to the Administration, but the latter excluded 16 of them.

It may be noted that the petition has been filed at a time when all preparations have been made for the Chandigarh Olympic Association elections.

The elections will be held for the post of president, secretary, senior vice-president, treasurer, joint secretary, two vice-presidents and four other members.