Chandigarh Olympics Association election deadlock: High Court pushes hearing to July
Election process of the COA, which started under supervision of the Chandigarh Administration, was put on hold by court
The battle to clear the status of affiliated and non-affiliated units of the Chandigarh Olympics Association (COA) has stretched further with the Punjab and Haryana High Court listing the next hearing of the ongoing case on July 22.
The election process of the COA, which started under the supervision of the Chandigarh Administration, was put on hold by the High Court. The Indian Olympics Association (IOA) was asked to submit an affidavit regarding status of the units affiliated with the COA. The UT Deputy Commissioner (DC) had deputed a new administrator for the COA last month.
As per new order of the Chandigarh DC Nishant Kumar Yadav, Municipal Corporation Special Commissioner Pradeep Kumar was appointed as the new the COA administrator and Social Welfare Director Palika Arora as the returning officer. However, as the hearing is now listed in July, the election process has now further been extended by at least three months.
In its affidavit, the IOA had made it clear that the existing members at any given point in time for any state Olympic association would always be such associations which stand recognised by not only the state Olympic association (as on the date), but also those who hold the recognition from their respective national sports federation.
It was also made clear that merely being part of the 2021 (COA) electoral roll does not “ipso facto” confer eligibility to participate in the elections. “The election could have been over by now, but the infighting between units has now extended the process. Meghalaya is expected to host the national games by the end of this year or by the start of next year. So, the legal battle continues. The teams will be sent under the banner of the UT Administration on the approval of the COA administrator,” said a former senior functionary of the COA.
Almost a year ago, the COA was almost on the verge of getting an elected body status. In October, as many as 22 local associations were approved and included in the COA electoral roll for taking part in the elections, which were scheduled for November 21. Despite completion of the nomination process, certain associations filed a fresh plea in the High Court and the election process was stayed.
