NEW DELHI: Two days after it was announced that the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) will hold its elections, the Delhi High Court-appointed observer, Dr S Y Quraishi, in a strongly-worded communication to EFI secretary general, Colonel Jaiveer Singh, has informed that he will not approve any of the electoral process if it's not carried in strict compliance of the national sports code, 2011.
In his email to Col Singh on Tuesday evening titled 'Elections', Dr Quraishi wrote: "I notice that you have referred to elections held in 2019 and said some tenures have expired. How is it that all tenures have not expired? As per sports code, tenure should be for four years. How are tenures for elections held in 2019 expiring now?"
"Further, you must be aware that the Honourable Delhi High Court has held in the Hockey India judgement that no variation of the sports code is permissible. It further holds that the government cannot grant recognition to an NSF that has a constitution in violation of sports code. So, it is perhaps not possible that compliance with the letter dated 9.11.2021 is sufficient compliance with the sports code. Because 9.11.2021 is giving exemptions from the sports code, and Honourable Delhi High Court has made it clear that sports code must be strictly followed. It appears to me that the elections may not be in accordance with the Sports Code, which I cannot approve. It will also go against my report to the Honourable Court. I request you to please take prior permission of the Honourable Delhi High Court and before taking any further steps about the elections because my report with recommendations is already with the Honourable Court as also your amended Constitution," the email added.
Col Singh had informed the media that the EFI will hold its first-ever elections in compliance with the sports code. The EFI has not held elections since 2019. The federation has been fighting legal cases on multiple fronts. The Rajasthan Equestrian Association (REA) has moved the Delhi High Court, asking it to restrain EFI from holding elections and appoint an ad-hoc committee until it amends its Statutes. Another petition has been filed in the Court claiming that EFI did not follow the proper procedure at its AGM to carry out the amendments.
Col. (Retd) Rajesh Pattu, an Arjuna awardee and a three-time Asian Games bronze medallist, who has been raising his voice against the illegalities committed by the EFI set-up, recently notified Dr Quraishi about the illegal removal of EC members and attempt to conduct elections by Col Jaiveer in non-compliance of the sports code. In his email dated July 10, Pattu wrote: "The interim secretary general Col Jaiveer has unilaterally removed most of the members of the Executive Committee and Selection Committee by giving them flimsy excuses and with the only intention of convincing yourself and the Hon'ble Delhi High Court that they (EFI) would not meet quorum requirements and hence would need an election to take place. The EFI has been trying to hold an election without any adherence to the sports code for a long time now and this seems to be another underhanded attempt to do the same. They have increased the numbers of ASC (Army) Units/Clubs to increase their vote bank and further rig the electoral college."
"They (EFI) have illegally amended their statutes which was already brought to your notice during last the AGM in March 2022 and this was solely done to add more bogus ASC (Army) Clubs/Units/Institutes to the electoral college and in no way follows the prescribed NSDCI 2011. The EFI has in no way implemented any of the suggestions made by you in your report submitted to the Hon'ble Delhi High Court which further suggests that they have no intention to follow the sports code in any way and start functioning in an honest and above board manner. It appears that they are going to be conducting an election as per the illegally amended statutes which consist of bogus ASC ( Army) Clubs/Units/Institutes, which is in direct violation of the NSDCI 2011," the email added.
The sports ministry had given EFI time till June 2022 to amend the constitution in line with the sports code and it will wait until the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham before taking a call on its continuance as an NSF.
