Paridhi Arya
Published on June 26, 2022 at 13:55 IST
The Vacation Bench of Justice Dinesh Sharma ordered Narinder Batra who is the President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to step down from his post with an immediate effect. The Court cleared that post of life member or life President is illegal and cannot be used to take benefit from any other national or international institution.
The Court ordered that Anil Khanna the senior most Vice President will be the acting President. Aslam Sher Khan the former Hockey player who was in the team in 1975 when India won gold filed the complaint of contempt.
The Court in the order of May 25 stated that by making three members Committee of Administrators (CoA) for day to day affairs Hockey India violated National Sport Code. The Court pointed out that Batra had made these posts of life member and life president which is illegal and unsustainable.
The Government had also notified Batra about posts of Life President and Life Member in a NSF being illegal.
In 2008, when Hockey India was registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 and recognized by the government. Narinder Batra appointed himself as life member of Hockey India. Though it was not the honest step but it futile step. The legitimacy of body was itself in question. This was the irony that the person was using the body to be permanent member although when body itself is in question.
The order stated, “The illegal Post of Life President or Life Member cannot be the stepping stone for any other position or benefit elsewhere, be it nationally (including in the IOA) or in international bodies.”
“If the respondent has so benefitted, then such benefit or position shall end right away. Let the CoA look into the matter, so would the government of India.”