Justice RK Gauba (Retd.) reminded the Indian Golf Union that it did not have the privilege of being in a time machine to go back to the electoral process that was stalled in 2018 by an erroneous decision of a District Court. As the Returning Officer, he prevailed upon the IGU general body to call for fresh elections to prevent the possibility of finding itself again in courts.
“We are not in a time machine to go back and let that body take over, complete the task and come back to the present time. We have to be realistic and look ahead rather than look back,” he is said to have responded to one member presenting a contrarian point of view and suggesting that there was no harm in the process being continued.
In his opening remarks at the annual general meeting, convened to announce the results of the 2018 election, he pointed out that doubts had been raised about the wholesomeness and advisability of continuing the existing process. “We can keep debating ad nauseum but that will lead us nowhere,” he told the IGU.
Justice Gauba said rewinding the process by calling for fresh nominations would help IGU rid of doubts about tenure of the elected body besides rendering the election current and updated in democratic spirit and representing contemporary opinion. “I suggest that IGU seek freshness by taking it back to the nomination process,” he said.
He pointed out that the notice for the election issued in 2018 had indicated that the elections was for the ‘ensuing term’, which meant 2018 to 2020. He also touched upon the fact that one of the candidates had attained 70 years of age and was ineligible as well as upon the demise of another candidate.
Having prevailed upon the IGU to forgo the process started in 2018 and seek fresh elections, Justice Gauba may now have to spend some time ensuring that the electoral college is in keeping with the rules in place. He will become aware that a number of State Associations may have been granted membership without due process being followed.
He also said he would deal with issues of tenure of office-bearers who have been holding positions without being elected at an appropriate time. Those who have been ‘acting’as office-bearers have been riddled with doubt if the time they spent in office would count as a term as per the National Sports Development Code of India 2011.
The ease with which he drove sense among the members of the IGU on Monday has given hope to all sections that no one will have any scope for complaints after the IGU elections are held on December 27, just in time to meet the December 31 deadline set by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Meanwhile, questions have been raised about a number of Army officers representing various State Associations, especially of those States in which they are not posted. The battle for power, usually attributed to politicians and bureaucrats, but as far as Indian Golf Union and Equestrian Federation of India are concerned, some Army officials are keen not to be left behind.
Curiously, this is despite the Army Chief Principal Information Officer stating in response to an RTI query last year that there are no golf clubs in the Army. “Common training areas used for weapon training, obstacle training, field craft/battlecraft and musketry are only used for playing golf. No separate land has been earmarked,” the CPIO stated.
Why then are some officers so keen on retaining the reins of IGU?
Looking forward to hearing from you
Good to see such right advice given by the returning officer