Now government asks swimming federation to hold fresh poll

NEW DELHI - After Badminton Association of India (BAI), the sports ministry Friday tightened the screws on the Swimming Federation of India (SFI), asking it to freshly elect its office-bearers within 90 days in keeping with the government guidelines.

Shankar Lal, under secretary in the sports ministry, referring to the SFI reply to the government’s show-cause notice, pointed out the proper procedures were not followed in the elections of the federation’s office bearers in May this year.

“After careful consideration off all facts and circumstances, it is unequivocally concluded that SFI has not only violated the government guidelines, which make it liable to de-recognition, but has also violated its own constitutional provisions in following due process in the conduct of election of its office bearers. That also make it liable for de-registration as a National Sports Federation (NSF).”

“The government hereby grants SFI a last opportunity (90 days) to amend its constitution in accordance with the guidelines for recognition of NSF under the scheme of assistance and hold fresh election in fair, democratic and transparent manner following due process in accordance with the well-formulated bye-laws,” Lal wrote to the SFI Friday.

The government guidelines limit the age of an NSF office bearer to 70 and he can hold on to the position for not more than three terms.

The letter said the SFI had sought a time three months time to reply to the show cause notice.

“The meeting notice of AGM dated May 22, 2010, indicates agenda item to elect office bearers for the next term of four years. But no voter list was published, no nominations were invited, no schedule of election and election process was notified,” the ministry letter noted.

“As per report of the government observer, the returning officer was also announced during the meeting and elections were held by proposing the name and with show of hands,” Lal wrote.