CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 28 : The Haryana Olympic Association headed by Abhey Singh Chautala and affiliated to the Indian Olympic Association, has condemned the illegal and unethical move of the Haryana Government to capture the duly elected body of the HOA.
It is alleged that the State Government clandstinely appointed so called returning officer Mr. Justice G C Garg (Retd) for conducting the elections of the HOA which appeared in some newspapers today. The Returning Officer’s appointment was questioned by more than 30 affiliated sports units , according to Dr. M S Malik, IPS (Rtd) Secretary General, Haryana Olympic Association (H.O.A.).
Almost all the affiliated units of the genuine HOA asked for the copy of the alleged order concerning the appointment of the so called Returning Officer, but neither the copy of the order was supplied nor the identity of the appointing officer has been disclosed till today.
Strongly critising the anti-sports activities of the State Government, Dr. Malik said that on the one side Haryana Government was showing itself the well-wisher of sports by announcing the cash awards to the Beijing Olympians, whereas, on the other hand the Government was indulging in unconstitutional activities contrary to the spirit of Olympic Movement/Charter by appointing the so called Returning Officer. It is only because of Abhey Singh Chautala, the Haryana boxers brought laurel to the ountry and Haryana in recently concluded Beijing Olympics.
Dr. Malik informed that it is a matter of fact and records that HOA elections were held at Sirsa on October 2, 2007, as per the HOA constitution of HOA and Abhey Singh Chautala, president and other officer bearers were elected unanimously for a further period of four years i.e. 01.10. 2011 . The HOA elections were duly certified and approved by the IOA vide its certificate dated 22 January 2008.
Dr Malik pointed out that IOA General Assembly in its general body meeting held on November 16, 2007 at New Delhi passed the following resolution:
"The General Body of the IOA strongly felt that the action of the Government of Haryana issuing an ordinance to take over of Haryana Olympic Association is illegal and against the provision of constitution of IOA. This house condemned this action and resolved that the Indian Olympic Association recognizes the Haryana Olympic Association headed by Shri Abhey Singh Chautala. The house further decided to constitute a Committee consisting of Shri Jagdish Tytler, Brig K P Singh Deo(Rtd) and Shri R K Anand to meet the Chief Minister of Haryana and apprise him of the constitutional provision of IOA. The house further resolved that all the National Federations affiliated/recognized by IOA will only allow those sports persons in their Meets who are affiliated to the Haryana Olympic Association headed by Shri Abhey Singh Chautala."
Questioning the appointment fo the Returning Officer, Dr Malik said that how at this juncture elections of the HOA can be held when its term is scheduled to be expire on October 1, 2011. He quoted the interim order passed by Hon’ble Delhi High Court in this case in writ petition No. 1031/2007 dated 8.02.2007 that "IF THERE IS ANY DISPUTE WITH IN THE STATE ASSOCIATIONS ITSELF THAN IT WILL BE FOR THE IOA TO TAKE THE DECISION ON THE SPOT."
In the interest of sports and sports ersons of Haryana, Dr. Malik requested the Haryana Government and particularly so called Returning Officer Justice G C Garg (Retd) to refrain from this illegal and unethical work which was against the Olympic Movement and Charter.
He said that fake body of the HOA headed by Navin Jindal, MP under the patronage of Haryana Government could not succeed earlier and in various Hon’ble Courts they have lost their cases also.
Dr Malik declared that the news appeared in a section of the press today about the HOA elections on September 7, is totally ‘false, misleading and illegal’, as elections of the HOA are due on October 1, 2011.