Sports Ministry issues showcause notice to BAI

The Sport Ministry issued a showcause notice to the Badminton Association of India (BAI) asking it to explain within 14 days as to why the government should not derecognise the federation.

In its notice to BAI president V K verma and general secretary Vijai Sinha, the ministry has framed five specific charges and asked for a written clarification.

"The statement of articles of charges framed against Badminton Association of India are that BAI has not informed Government about its Annual General Meeting and Elections well in advance," reads one of the charges in the letter issued by Deepika Kachhal, Director, Sports.

The ministry said that Verma misled the state units and also wrote derogatorily against the government.

"President, BAI, vide his letter dated 2nd June 2010, gave a totally distorted and misleading picture to the member units regarding financial assistance from the government and private sponsors and the implications of losing government recognition.

"President has written in derogatory terms about Government of India by stating that IOC has issued a showcause notice to Government of India on the tenure issue," the ministry said.

The ministry also charged BAI for violating government guidelines by electing Verma as its president in its June 13 elections, which was not conducted in a free and fair way in Chennai.

"By electing V K Verma, the BAI has violated the orders on tenure limit in respect of President of a recognised National Sports Federations. As per available records Shri Verma has been holding the post of president since 1997 and has already completed 12 years term as president of BAI.

"Further the elections of BAI have not been conducted in fair, democratic and transparent manner as per reports submitted by Government Observer, Returning Officer and two institutional members i,e Railway Sports Promotion Board and Association of Indian Universities," the notice said.

The Ministry also called upon BAI to explain why it should not ask it to remove the word 'India' from its name as it implies government approval.

"It is further noted that the BAI is registered under the Andra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001. Accordingly to clause 6.2 (b) of the said Act, except with the previous sanction in writing of the Government, no society shall be registered by a name which contains any of the following words, namely 'Union' or 'State' or any word expressing or implying the sanction, approval or patronage of Central Government or any state Government.

"BAI is hereby called upon to explain why the government should not take up the matter with Registrar of Societies for withdrawing/removing the word "India" from the Badminton Federation of India since it conveys the approval or patronage of central government as it is not complaint with the government guidelines," the notice explained.

The ministry also asked for an explanation from BAI as why it should not withdraw the registration it has been granted, since it has violated the specific public policy guidelines regarding limits on tenure and age of the office bearers.

Verma confirmed receiving the letter but said BAI won't address the matter immediately as two of its petitions against the enforceability of the government guidelines are still pending in the Rajasthan and Delhi High Court.

"Since the enforceability of the government guidelines is subjudiced in the Rajasthan High Court and also in the Delhi High Court, the BAI will not address this matter now," Verma said.

The BAI was in collision course with the Sports Ministry after it refused to abide by the government guidelines during its general elections in June and after being threatened of derecognition, the badminton body had said it was self-sufficient to run the game in the country.