HC stays GSOA polls after petition cites code violation

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Tuesday stayed the elections scheduled for Gujarat State Olympic Association (GSOA) office-bearers and executive members. The decision came in response to a petition filed by two sports associations, which complained that the GSOA was not adhering to the National Sports Development Code .

The Gujarat State Rifle Association and the Gujarat State Volleyball Association filed the petition through advocate Dhaval Barot. They sought the high court's direction to the state govt to ensure that GSOA elections are conducted in strict compliance with the code and the provisions of the constitution of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

GSOA issued a notification last month and scheduled elections on April 20 in Vadodara. The associations objected to nominations by certain members, questioning their eligibility concerning the code. The code is an amalgamation of various govt directives and circulars for good governance of national sports federations and IOA.

The petitioners claimed that the GSOA constitution violates the IOA constitution and its rules and regulations. They wrote to the returning officer about the wrongful removal of various associations and federations from the GSOA, as the voting rights of existing members were taken away. The GSOA cannot operate under rules that contradict IOA rules.

The petitioners submitted that they made representations to the concerned state authority, as GSOA functions under the department of sports, youth, and cultural affairs. However, their concerns went unheeded, prompting them to file petitions in the high court.

Justice Mauna Bhatt ordered the inclusion of the returning officer and those who filed nominations. Notices were issued to them, along with the state govt and GSOA, regarding the challenge to the election process on the grounds that it does not align with the code, which was approved by the Delhi High Court.

The HC has sought a reply by June.