BHUBANESWAR 12-Sep-2011 289
Tussle to take control of Orissa State Badminton Association (OSBA) finally ended today thanks to the intervention of Badminton Association of India (BAI), which withdrew it recognition of the old state body, controlled by secretary Syed Iqbal Rehman and provisionally recognised the new elected body with Deepak Kumar Basu and Pradip Mohanty as president and secretary respectively.
The BAI had constituted a three-member committee, comprising its vice-president Abdul Bari Siddique, executive committee members K N Jaiswal and Sekhar C Biswas to enquire into the dispute and submit a report. Authorised by the committee, Jaiswal held discussions with both the groups during his visit to Cuttack two weeks ago.
According to the report, submitted last week, though the elections of office-bearers and council members of OSBA were due on February 27, 2008, the same were delayed and held on September 14, 2008. ``However, no returning officer (neutral person) was appointed/nominated to conduct the said elections. Thus, the elections held on September 14 were not in order and should be considered null & void,`` the report said.
It further observed that the secretary of Orissa Olympic Association (OOA) had written a letter to the then OSBA secretary Iqbal Rehman for holding fresh elections on October 29, 2010. But Rehman preferred to go for litigation against OOA which, however, was rejected by High Court on earlier this year on June 21.
``Thereafter the elections of the state body were held June 26 at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, in the presence of authorised representatives of OOA and observers of Directorate of Sports, Government of Orissa,`` the report said.
The committee found the June 26th elections, in which Deepak Basu and Pradip Mohanty were elected as president and secretary respectively, in order and valid. ``Agreeing with the committee`s recommendations, the BAI has provisionally recognised the Basu-Mohanty group and authorised it to carry on day-to-day work of the state body till further orders,`` BAI president Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta wrote in his office order.
Welcoming the BAI order, new secretary Mohanty said it would help revive badminton in Orissa after a gap of 12 years. ``We will start our activity with the conduct of the State junior and senior championships at J N Indoor Stadium, Cuttack from September 16 to 18. The three-day meet will be the basis for selection of Orissa team for the East Zone Inter-State Championship to be held at Madhubani, Bihar from September 23 to 25,`` he announced.
Out-going secretary Rehman said he had not received any such order from BAI, ``But, I would not make any comment against the National body if it had issued such an order,`` remarked Rehman. He also stated that if his help and cooperation was sought for the promotion of badminton in Orissa, he would not mind to oblige.
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PHOTO: Iqbal Rehman (Left) and Deepak Basu at Hotel Crown in Bhubaneswar.
