Asirbad Behera steps down from OOA post after SC order

Sports administrator Asirbad Behera today temporarily stepped down from the post of honorary secretary of Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) following a direction from the Supreme Court.
"Respecting the Supreme Court direction, I have stepped down from the post and handed over charge to our joint secretary R K Parida to look after the day-to-day functioning of the Association," Behera, who had been occupying the post for the last 28 years since 1988, said.
Parida would take charge as the in-charge secretary tomorrow, officials said.
The Supreme Court is currently examining and ascertaining as to whether a commercial complex built by OOA near Barabati Stadium here are within the leasehold area as claimed by the sporting body.

The Association has built a commercial complex comprising 23 shops and a Kalayan Mandap, namely Barabati Palace on the adjacent vacant government land close to the stadium.
Today's order came when the counsel for the state government Ashok Panigrahi told the apex Court that the two partners looking after the commercial complex are son and son-in-law of Behera and there is a conflict of interest.
The apex court has posted the matter to be listed on April 13, 2016 next.
While adjudicating over a special leave petition (SLP) filed by OOA in which the Association had challenged a judgement of the Orissa High Court, a Supreme Court Division Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and P C Pant, in an interim order restrained Behera from functioning as the Association secretary till April 13 next.