IOA prez let go Batra's demand to call SGM

Indian Olympic Association chief N Ramachandran on Friday dismissed Narinder Batra’s claim of having requisite support to bring a no confidence motion against him, saying that the Hockey India boss does not even have enough backers to call a Special General Meeting to propose the move.In a missive to Batra today, Ramachandran said he has got letters from only 20 member units (National Sports Federations and state Olympic associations) of the IOA, which have demanded a Special General Meeting to move the no confidence move, thus falling short of reaching the 50 per cent requirement.

He said the matter should be considered closed as Batra has failed to provide the required number of letters of support.

IOA has 39 NSFs and 35 state Olympic units, according to its website. In case of a few of them, disputes have been going on over who should control them. Batra had claimed support of 19 NSFs and 18 state Olympic associations.“It is rather unfortunate that you have failed in furnishing to me the letters that you claim to have received from the member units, calling for a SGM to consider the no confidence motion but have chosen instead to level false and baseless allegations by your two emails on 24th June 2015,” Ramachandran said in the letter.

“The total number of letters received by the IOA office and the undersigned till date from the member units do not exceed twenty (20) and several of these letters also suffer from infirmities. The Rules clearly mandates a written requisition to be sent to the president signed by the presidents and secretaries of not less than 50% member units,” he said.

“In these circumstances, the SGM cannot be called, and consequently all the letters received are null and void. Please treat this chapter closed,” said Ramachandran.In a letter sent on June 22, Ramachandran had asked Batra to provide him all the letters of support which had demanded a no confidence vote against him within 24 hours so that he can take a decision on the issue.

Ramachandran also charged Batra of disrupting the smooth functioning of the IOA and causing damage to the reputation of the organisation.

“I am constrained to say that your lack of transparent communication and your constant misbriefing of the press are actions that disrupt the smooth functioning of the IOA, by diverting the time and energies of its functionaries and tend to cause reputational damage to the IOA.

“Please do bear in mind that it is the duty of all of us to act responsibly and serve the organisation by working constructively towards the advancement of sport in India,” the IOA chief said.

According to IOA constitution, a No Confidence Motion against the president, secretary general, treasurer and other executive council members can be passed if two-third majority of members are present and voting. The quorum for such a meeting will have to be three-fourths of the total strength of the IOA General Body entitled to vote.

A SGM may be convened at any time by IOA president or the Executive Council or on a written requisition signed by presidents and secretaries of not less than 50 per cent member units within one month from the date of receipt by the president of the said requisition. If the president of IOA fails to convene a meeting, then the requisitionists can convene the meeting under arrangements made directly by them.