 on December 10 was accepted by the Apex Court today.){kind=link}
The proposal by former Supreme Court Judge L. Nageswara Rao to conduct elections to the executive committee of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on December 10 was accepted by the Apex Court today.
The matter was taken up for hearing by the Bench of Chief Justice of India-designate Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli.
The Bench said in its order that on the basis of the note sent by former Supreme Court Justice L. Nageswara Rao on November 2, the Court has come to know about the comprehensive exercise, which was carried out by the former judge of this court on an expedited basis.
The Bench appreciated the ardour and enthusiasm with which the Assignment was taken and work was done in the spirit of national interest.
It also praised the efforts taken to conduct the exercise, while keeping all the stakeholders, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the state associations in loop for a concrete solution.
As per the report submitted by Justice Rao, the elections should be held on December 10, 2022.
The bench in its order mentioned that as the amendments have been proposed, it is in the general interest that they should be circulated to all at the earliest, so that the general body meeting can be held on November 10.
The Court further gave liberty to Justice Rao to chalk out the modalities for circulation of the proposed amendments
With this order in place, the top court of the country ‘strictly’ forbade any other court from entertaining any petition related to the amendments in the constitution of IOA or to the election of Executive Committee of IOA.
The Apex Court further directed the IOA to make payment of honorarium of Rs 20 lakh to Justice Rao, though he had taken up the task assigned to him pro bono.
The bench ordered that no other court should entertain any petition relating to the amendments to the constitution of IOA or to the election to the executive committee of the IOA.
The Court has mentioned that if there exists any objections or confusion, it should be submitted by any person or party before the Apex Court only.
The Supreme Court bench noted that the Solicitor General had stated although Justice Nageswara Rao has indicated that he would perform the task which has been assigned by this court pro bono, but keeping in mind the magnitude of the task and the efforts which have been put in, paying honorarium to the judge looks appropriate.
The bench did not fail to add that the remuneration to the assisting counsel shall be fixed by the judge and intimated to IOA as the association has agreed to defray the remuneration as so fixed.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on December 7.
The Apex Court appointed former Justice LN Rao to prepare electoral rolls and conduct elections, along with amending the constitution of Indian Olympic Association on September 21.
In September, the top court of the country had stayed the August 16 order of the Delhi High Court, which had directed the Committee of Administrators to take control of IOA governance.
The Ministry of Sports Ministry had intimated that this could lead to suspension by the international committee due to the third party interference.
A final warning was issued to IOA to sort out governance issues and hold elections by December by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).