World body backs suspended Paralympic Committee of India
Vinayak Padmadeo
New Delhi, February 13
In a setback to the Sports Ministry, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has backed the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) after it was suspended over violation of the sports code.
In her reply to the Ministry, IPC’s chief membership and impact officer Kristina Molloy has said that the PCI was not in violation of any of “member obligations” and that it expects the Indian body to manage its affairs autonomously.
This was a response to the Ministry’s letter informing the IPC of the PCI’s suspension and the formation of an ad hoc body to run the affairs of the federation. Also, citing the IPC’s autonomy, Molloy said that the IPC will not form the ad hoc body as sought by the Ministry.
“In light of the information provided to us by the PCI and by your office, and in accordance with the IPC Constitution adopted by our General Assembly in November 2022, the Paralympic Committee of India is currently not in breach of any of its member obligations to the IPC. As such, the current governance situation of the PCI does not require an intervention by the IPC,” Molloy wrote on Monday. “We expect our members to manage their affairs autonomously and without interference from bodies outside the Paralympic Movement, as required by the provisions of the IPC Constitution (see Article 13.2.15 in particular),” she added.
Interestingly, the IPC asked all the parties involved — the Sports Ministry and the PCI — to resolve the matter as it stemmed from the laws and regulations of India. “As the current governance questions you raise regarding the PCI stem from the national laws and regulations of India, we believe this matter will be best resolved within the scope of the country’s own decision-making process and institutional structures,” she added.
The letter is a shot in the arm for the PCI officials who were taken aback by this sudden suspension as they had plans to hold the elections next month.
