HC directs Centre to hold elections to all sport bodies

The Delhi high court on Wednesday directed the Centre to hold elections that are overdue in all sports federations.

"We expect the Central government to hold elections to sports federations, if overdue," a bench of acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said.

The bench was hearing a PIL, filed by advocate Rahul Mehra, alleging that sacked Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief Suresh Kalmadi and other officials are violating the National Sports Development Code of India as their terms are over and they are likely to contest the elections that are due in October.

Mehra prayed to the bench to pass directions that wherever and whichever sports associations elections are overdue, the same must be held.

"It is your duty. If elections are overdue, just direct them to hold elections," the bench told the counsel appearing for the Centre.

Mehra also said that the situation is the same in the Archery Association of India, headed by senior BJP leader V K Malhotra, who is also acting president of the Indian Olympic Association for 35 years.

"The elections were due in February but they were not held as the person holding the post will have to go as the tenure and age rule debars him from holding the chair," Mehra submitted.

He said the Union Sports Ministry's guidelines mandate a person to continue as IOA president only up to 12 years.