PIL filed against suspended IOA

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court (HC) seeking compliance of the directions issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to the suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and social activist Nutan Thakur said in their petition that the directions issued by IOC are for the benefit of Indian sports because it will place a ban on tainted officials.

The petitioners said the sports ministry and the government should use its authority to ensure that IOA complies with the IOA directions in the prescribed period so that the suspension is lifted.

The petitioners said the IOC suspended IOA December 2012 for having failed to comply with the directions to suitably amend its constitution for introducing integrity and ethics along with good governance in sports.

"This suspension has many ill effects including ban from participation in Olympics," the petitioners said.

Again during the IOC meeting in Buenos Aires, Sep 4, IOC decided that if IOA amends its constitution by Oct 31 to incorporate the clause that any person against whom charges have been framed in a court of law will be removed from office, its suspension will be revoked, the petition says.

The petitioners have said that participation in Olympics is associated with not only sports but is also linked with the sentiments of the entire nation and also has its ramifications in international diplomacy and international prestige of a nation.