SC sets aside AAI election, Rao resigns

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 1

The Supreme Court has set aside the elections of Archery Association of India (AAI), held last year under the supervision of former Chief Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi. The court has called for fresh elections to be held within four weeks.

BVP Rao was elected the new president of AAI on December 22, 2018. The Supreme Court has declared null and void the amended constitution under which the election was held. The apex court was of the view that the constitution did not conform to the court’s earlier direction.

Justice AM Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi observed that “…indisputably, the additional amendments incorporated by the administrator have resulted in denial of right to represent in and contest elections of the AAI for existing members.”

The order relieved the High-Court appointed AAI administrator, and gave powers to the elected body to “continue to function hereafter as Committee of Administrators appointed in terms of this order.” However, the committee is barred from taking any policy decision.

The amended constitution had barred AAI’s state and member associations from electing a public servant as an officebearer. It also warranted election of archers to the executive, and directed that at least one among the two vice-presidents “shall be a woman archer”, and one among two joint secretaries and three executive members “would be an archer”. Further, it directed that 33% of the executive committee “shall be archers”.

Both AAI and the Sports Ministry had raised several objections against the amended constitution, which they claimed was in abeyance of the 2011 Sports Code. While the Sports Ministry filed its application on January 24, raising objections to the constitution being in violation of the national sports development code of India (NSDCI), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) filed their application on February 8.

IOA contended that the unilateral inclusion of 23 members with voting rights by the administrator had a severe impact on the outcome of the elections.

The NSDCI doesn’t bar public servants from holding any office, and it also does not extend voting rights to associate members, including the Railways and Services.

Rao resigns

After the judgement, Rao resigned from the post of AAI president. “I hereby resign... as Indian system does not allow committed and competent people with integrity,” he wrote in a brief resignation letter.