CUTTACK 01-Dec-2015
Odisha High Court has passed an interim order, asking State Sports Director take over the functioning of Odisha State Badminton Association (OSBA) after first hearing of a case filed by Binod Dash and affiliated districts of the state badminton body. The apex court of the state has also directed the Sports Director to select players for various national championships and bear all the cost in this regard till the final hearing of the case.
The infighting in OSBA reached the High Court after rival groups, led by Binod Das and incumbent secretary Pradip Mohanty conducted election of office-bearers separately in successive dates. Dash alleged that since last three years, lot of irregularities had been noticed in the functioning of OSBA.
``AGM was not being held, accounts were not being presented/ passed in any committee, record of funds disbursement were not being presented, outside state players were being allowed to play for Odisha depriving local talents and affiliation was being given to new districts without following proper procedure,’’ he pointed out.
Dash claimed that in a special meeting of OSBA, held 27/9/2015, the association was dissolved and with the consent of all affiliated districts the functioning of the state body was handed over to Odisha Olympic Association. It was also decided to hold the AGM and elections on 22/11/2015.
``Mr Pradip Mohanty was also present in the meeting and was aware of all decisions taken. But with a motive to create confusion he along with new affiliated districts announced another date for AGM and elections, which is illegal as after the dissolve of the association he had no right to take a decision as he was no more the secretary,’’ said Dash.