CGOA v-p demands probe into alleged irregularities in state’s top sports body
| Date :19-Sep-2019 |
Special Correspondent:
Raipur
A senior office-bearer in Chhattisgarh Olympic Association (CGOA) has stirred up a hornet’s nest by urging Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for a thorough investigation into State’s top sports body, affiliated to Indian Olympic Association (IOA), so that the irregularities prevailing in the CGOA could be exposed. Questioning the legitimacy of the CGOA and its constitution, Bashir Ahmed Khan, one of the founder member of the sports body and Vice-President, shot a letter to the Chief Minister alleging the amendments made to the constitution of the association as illegal and therefore it should be probed by an intelligence agency. He urged the Chief Minister to take all the files related to Chhattisgarh Olympic Association into his possession from the office of sub-registrar for transparency in the investigation process.
In his letter, Khan mentioned that CGOA was registered under Registrar, Firms and Societies, Chhattisgarh Government, on August 10, 1998. Further, CGOA is an affiliated body of IOA and therefore all states Olympic associations should follow the provisions laid by the IOA. In a meeting of the CGOA held on October 26, 2015 in Raipur, office bearers of the association were elected as per Rule-3 of the amended constitution of the association.
Khan alleged that transparency was not maintained during the election. In open violation of defined rules, office bearers were elected from those sports bodies which are not even affiliated to CGOA under political influence. Unfortunately, no one dared to raise their voice against the influential people of the CGOA fearing action against them, said Khan. Those attended the meeting were asked to sign in the attendance register of the CGOA, but were deprived of informatio about minutes of the meeting. Most of the office bearers and members of CGOA were unaware about the minutes of the meeting and they did not even dare to ask question. After the meeting, the details were sent to the office of the sub registrar.
Khan alleged that the no members or office bearers of CGOA were given the report of audit and expenses since 2011-12. What happened to the fund received by the CGOA from the IOA for development sports in the state was not informed to the office bearers. Moreover, there was no mention about this fund in the audit report of 2014-15 and 2015-16. The tenure of CGOA was made five years from 4 years which is completely against constitution of IOA.
It is worthwhile to mention, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, in a letter issued on September 9, 2019, made it clear that the tenure of election in IOA is four years and only affiliated member units and IOC member are permitted to vote in the elections and there no voting right for life members. Mehta further said that State Olympic Associations should formulate their constitution in consonance with IOA Constitution. No Provision of constitution of State Olympic Association should be in contradiction to the constitution of the IOA. He asked to refer IOA Constitution Clause 28. In contradiction, the life members of CGOA were given voting rights.