Indian Boxing Federation's plan to accommodate outgoing office bearers rejected

The sports ministry has shot down Indian Boxing Federation's plans to amend its constitution to apparently allow some of the office-bearers to continue their hold over the IBF against the government rules, directing the sports body to conduct elections under its guidelines.

The elections to the IBF is scheduled to be held here on Sunday with reports doing the rounds that its constitution will be amended to apparently create a new post of chairman for the incumbent president Abhay Singh Chautala, who, under, government rules, is ineligible to contest again as he has served three terms at the helm.

But the sports ministry in a letter has told the federation in clear terms to refrain from amending the constitution.

"I am directed to say that from the agenda of the Notice for the Annual General Meeting dated 21 August, 2012, it is noted that the federation is proposing to amend the constitution to accommodate their outgoing president and also other such office bearers who are already office bearers in other National Sports Federations," the letter addressed to IBF Secretary General and signed by Under Secretary A K Patro said.

"These proposed moves to amend their constitution by the federation is against the spirit of the government guidelines on Good Governance practices in the management of NSFs," it said.

According to the ministry guidelines, a president cannot serve more than three terms.

The IBF had written to the sports ministry, seeking exceptions to the government rule on the ground of decent progress boxing has made in recent years under the present set of office-bearers.

The ministry directed the IBF that it should first rectify the "deficiencies" before the elections are held, including the non-adoption of age and tenure guidelines by the federation.

"The federation is advised that the deficiencies need to be cured before elections can be held. It is further advised that the election be held only after sorting out deficiencies and strictly in accordance with the Model Election Guidelines of the Government," it said.

"From the agenda of the meeting, it is also noted that the federation has not included/adopted age and tenure guidelines of the Ministry, issued vide its letter dated 1st may, 2012 in their constitution as one of the agenda points," it added.

The government also said that the time given for filing of nomination by the interested candidates was very short as the federation would finalise the electoral college on September 8 (12.00 hrs) while the last date of receipt of nomination as per the election schedule was September 10 (12.00 hrs).

"From the election schedule for election of the office bearers of the federation to be held during the AGM of 23rd September, 2012, it is noted that names of representatives of the affiliated units are to be received in the federation by 8th September 2012 and then the president/secretary general will scrutinise them and prepare/finalise the list of electoral college and the nomination papers for election are to be filed by interested candidates latest by 10th September 2012 at the federation office at Delhi."