The Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) Ethics Commission has taken up the disputed Indian Golf Union (IGU) election. R Shyam Sunder, an IGU executive council member, has filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission against IOA president PT Usha for “interfering” in the election process, citing a “blatant violation of the IOA constitution and IOC charter.” Sunder, chairman of the IGU’s Technical, Rules, and Amateur Status Committee, has written to Justice (retd) Kailash Gambir.
Gambir heads the seven-member independent IOA Ethics Commission, alleging that Usha has shown “undue favouritism” towards returning officer Justice (retd) OP Garg and has taken an interest in the IGU’s election with the “sole motive to support one group.” The IGU election, set for December 15, was called into question when the Garg determined that five state golf associations (SGAs) were ineligible for voting.
Garg eventually reinstated them after they made a representation. However, on November 28, IGU president Brijender Singh told the council members that Garg had resigned, postponing the polls. IGU then selected Permod Kohli, a retired Sikkim High Court judge, as RO. However, Usha demanded an explanation from Singh over the poll postponement and questioned Kohli’s appointment as RO. Usha wrote to Kohli on Wednesday, citing a “potential conflict” in taking the role of RO.
Indian Sports Governance Headed for a Showdown
In an NSF he is also the chairman of the IOA’s Arbitration Commission. She further stated that Garg had made it abundantly clear that he would continue to be the RO of the IGU elections as of November 30th, and there was no necessity to establish a second RO. Meanwhile, in a new twist to the elections, the IGU selected R Malik, a former judge from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as a new returning officer.
Sunder wrote in his complaint to the IOA Ethics Commission stating, The resignation of the first Returning Officer prompted the Governing Body of the IGU to appoint a new Returning Officer. Most troubling is the conduct of the President of the IOA, who, without any lawful authority, has shown undue favouritism toward the old Returning Officer by issuing a series of letters interfering with the IGU’s autonomous functioning.
