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Acid test for Secy Sports Council to conducts free, fair Feb 17 elections

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/11/2016 10:04:32 AM

JAMMU, Feb 10: Since its inception, Jammu and Kashmir Olympic Association is making utter mockery of ‘Sports Guidelines’ , All India Services Rules 1968, and ‘National Sports Development Code ’ has been reduced to a private limited company.
It would an acid test for the Secretary State Sports Council Javaid Shah to conduct free and fair J&K Olympic Association elections which is schedule to be held in Jammu on February 17, 2016. He said that Council has appointed Ranjit Kalra, Prof BA Shah, Abdul Rashid as observers for the coming elections.
Interestingly, the sports council who is accountable to ensure that its norms are adhered to, has not only turned a blind eye to the violation of norms, but has connived with JKOA misdoings.
Sources said that , Ashutosh Sharma is among sports administrator have glued to the chair of the J&K Olympic Association, since its inception nearly three decades ago, besides office bearers of dozen other sports associations by violating state sports council order No. SC/76-A /5087-6020 dated 18.11. 1997 . All the misdoings are being conducted by the JKOA under the nose of the Sports Council and IOA observers. Since last three decades, JKOA select its office bearers in place of holding free and fair elections.
In violation of yet another order of the state sports council, No. SC/76/2801-6 dated 27.8.1998, which states that "No individual can hold more than one principal offices in any sports associations", he has included his name in the executive bodies more than dozen other associations.
Talking to ‘The Kashmir Times’, Secretary, J&K State Sports Council told directions have been issued to the observers of the department that elections would be held in place of the selection in coming JKOA elections. He has also made it clear the GAD’s SRO-164, All India Services Conduct Rules 1968 (clause 13(5) and Sports Council’s Guidelines would be strictly implemented.
After court allow to conduct the much due elections, JKOA announced the rescheduled date of the elections on February 17.
Sources said though six days have been left for the elections, JKOA has not issued any nomination papers to contested candidates, besides date for the scrutiny of nominations and withdrawal of nominations have also not been fixed , which indicates that likewise the previous tears JKOA will not be free and fair.
It is pertinent to mention that “SRO-164 and ‘Sports Guidelines’ of Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council clearly says that no state government employees can become member of any Sports Associations/ Federations with out prior permission of the General Administration Department to J&K Govt besides, a govt employee can become officer bearer of any Sports Associations/ Federations for only one term.
While in case of All India Services Conduct Rules 1968 clause 13(5) cearly says an IAS, IPS officers can not become member of Sports bodies/ Federations with out seeking ‘No objection certificate’ from MHA . But it was noticed that J&K state have become heaven for the IAS, IPS officers. They have become members of sports bodies/ federations with out obtaining due permission from MHA and the General Administration Department to Govt of J&K is in deep slumber.
Prior to conduct the elections all State Sports bodies / Federations need to have the following clauses in their MOA/AOA or Bye-Laws amongst others:
I. Office Bearer shall retire at the age of 70 years;
II. Athletes nominated by the Athletes Commission shall be included in the decision making process of the executive body;
III. The total strength of the athletes in the executive body shall not be less than 25% of the voting rights;
IV. Ensure that representation of either gender is not less than 10% of the membership in the General Body;
V. A person against whom criminal charges have been framed under the Criminal Procedure Code (section 228) shall be ineligible to contest elections of the State association/ federations ;
VI. A person who has served as an Officer Bearer on the executive body of a state sports body / federation for 2 consecutive terms shall be ineligible to stand for election.
VII. However, the President shall be eligible to hold office for 12 years or three terms of office of four years each with or without break.
VIII. An Office Bearer of one Sports association/ NSF shall not be ineligible to hold post of an Office Bearer in another state sports bodies/NSFs;
IX. No govt employees can become member of Sports bodies/ Federations with out prior permission from MHA, state govt.