Today, On 24th February, The Delhi High Court set aside the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) decision directing the Bihar Olympic Association to form an ad-hoc panel. The court ruled that the move was unjustified and beyond IOA’s authority. This decision comes amid disputes over the functioning of Bihar’s sports administration. The ruling reinforces the autonomy of state Olympic bodies in managing their own affairs.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court set-aside a decision made by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish an ad-hoc panel to manage the affairs of the Bihar Olympic Association.
Justice Sachin Datta issued the ruling in response to a plea from the Bihar Olympic Association, stating that elections for the body would take place within three months.
The court noted,
“I have set aside the impugned order dated January 1, 2025. The court has taken on record the petitioner’s statement that elections shall be held within three months,”
The petitioner, represented by advocate Neha Singh, contended that the appointment of a single-member fact-finding panel in November 2024, concerning certain complaints about its operations and election process, was unilateral.
Singh argued that the IOA president’s illegal order to form the ad-hoc committee on January 1 could not be upheld. The petitioner sought the restoration of its status, claiming it had not been informed about any representations made against it and had not been given an opportunity to be heard.
Singh further asserted that the constitution of the IOA did not authorize its president to create an “ad-hoc committee” to replace a duly elected and registered body without prior consultation with the IOA executive committee members before such a significant action was taken.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is India’s main sports body for the Olympics. It selects athletes to compete in big events like the Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. Started in 1927, the IOA also takes care of Indian teams in these international sports competitions.
The Bihar Olympic Association (BOA) is the main sports body in Bihar. It helps in growing and supporting sports in the state by working with different sports groups and the government. It is linked with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Together, these groups help find and support sports talent in Bihar.
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