After ministry, IOA too cracks whip on Indian Golf Union

NEW DELHI: On the heels of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) forming an ad-hoc panel to set things right in the Indian Golf Union (IGU), the sports ministry is unlikely to extend its recognition after December 31 as IGU failed to hold elections to all posts before the ministry’s deadline.

The ministry had derecognised IGU in April for the similar reason but granted interim recognition in July for three months to ensure preparations for the Asian Games were not hampered. The ministry later extended the deadline till December 31.The IGU convened its AGM on December 15 but failed to conduct it after the West Bengal Golf Society moved court in Kolkata claiming rules were not followed while calling for the AGM.

Among the discrepancies pointed out are that the annual accounts for 2016-17 and the year ending March 2018 have not been approved by the IGU Council. The annual accounts were circulated by e-mail for approval, which is against the rule. No Council meeting has been held after July 2018, although law requires a meeting in every quarter. Also, the date, time and venue of the December 15 AGM were not approved by the Council and the notice convening the meeting was not signed by a Council office-bearer. The notice had another glaring error. When sent out, it mentioned December 15 as the date of the AGM, but had December 22 as the date of issue.

The IGU has moved the Calcutta High Court to vacate the stay and the next date of hearing is on January 3. As IGU awaits relief from the court to conduct its AGM, it will also have to meet the demands of the IOA.