Sports Ministry asks NSFs and IOA to hold timely Elections of Office Bearers and as per the Guidelines issued by the Ministry

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has advised that all National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) shall conduct their election to elect new office bearers at least one month before the expiry of the term of the office bearers. In a communication sent to NSFs and IOA today, the Ministry said that the elections should be conducted as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry including those on age and tenure limits.

According to the communication, the matter of holding elections of office bearers of the NSFs on time has been reviewed in the Ministry. It has been noticed that some NSFs do not hold their elections on time and delay the conduct of the elections on some plea or the other.

The communication said, however, in exceptional circumstances and in deserving cases extension of maximum of three months could be considered by the Ministry, after which the office bearers elected in the last election will automatically ceases to exist.

The communication said, all NSFs and the IOA are requested to take appropriate action accordingly and intimation regarding holding of elections of office bearers should be sent well in advance, so that the Ministry may consider nominating Government Observer, to oversee the conduct of elections. These instructions shall be followed scrupulously by all concerned.