HC quashes nomination of G body members of Rifle Association

In a shot in the arm for Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Delhi High Court today quashed the nomination of eight members to general body of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) including its president Raninder Singh for depriving the ace shooter an opportunity to contest the election of the sports body.
It allowed sports body the liberty to hold fresh elections in accordance with law.
"No election which has been held after depriving the persons desirous of contesting the chance to contest can be held to be a valid election and cannot be given any recognition," Justice P K Bhasin said.

The court allowed the plea of Rathore, the first Indian after Independence to win a silver medal in rifle shooting in the 2004 Athens Olympics, that outgoing general body's move to nominate eight members to general body instead for holding elections be declared as "nullity".
"In the result, a decree of declaration is passed in favour of the plaintiff (Rathore) and against the defendant (NRAI) declaring the proceedings of the meeting of the Life Members and Annual Members of NRAI to be a nullity as also the nomination of eight members from these two categories of members by the President of NRAI as their representatives in the General Body of NRAI.

"Consequent upon this declaration the defendant (NRAI) is also restrained permanently from giving effect to the elections held on 6th April, 2013 which was an earlier interim direction given on 5th April, 2013," the court said.
Instead of holding elections to choose four representatives each from life members of 'Wild Life Association of India' and from annual members of 'Shooters Association of India', the incumbent President of NRAI Raninder Singh opted for nomination process.
The eight nominated members formed part of the governing body of NRAI and this "undemocratic" process had dashed Rathore's hope to gain entry into the governing body Rifle association, it said.