HOA elections can't be held before Oct, 2011: Malik

Chandigarh, Aug 28 (UNI) The Haryana Olympic Association, headed by Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, has accused the Haryana government of trying to ''capture the duly elected sports body through questionable means.'' ''By issuing a clandestine order of appointment of so-called returning officer Justice G C Garg (Retd) for conducting the elections of Haryana Olympic Association on September 7, the government was trying to capture the duly elected sports body through questionable means,'' Dr M S Malik, Secretary General, Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) said today.

He said it was a matter of record that HOA elections were held at Sirsa on October 2, 2007 as per the constitution of HOA.

Mr Abhey Singh Chautala and other officer bearers were elected unanimously for a further period of four years i.e. up to October 2, 2011. The elections of HOA were duly certified and approved by IOA vide its certificate dated January 22, 2008.

Mr Malik asked how at this juncture, elections of HOA could be held when the term of the body was scheduled to expire in 2011.

The appointment of the was questioned by more than 30 affiliated sports units of HOA, he said.

''Almost all the affiliated units ask 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 had been disclosed till today,'' he added.

Dr Malik said that on one hand, the Haryana government was projecting itself as sports-friendly by announcing the cash awards to the Beijing Olympians, on the other, it was indulging in unconstitutional activities contrary to the spirit of Olympic Movement/Charter by appointing the so called Returning Officer.

UNI MA MMS1641