JKSC directs Associations to hold fresh elections by appointing ROs

Goldi Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 8: Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC) has appointed two Returning Officers (ROs) for both Jammu and Kashmir divisions and directed the Sports Associations to hold fresh elections for new bodies, which are already due for the long time.
The notice was served to more than dozen Associations including  J&K Cycling Association, J&K Rifle Association, J&K Ball Badminton Association, J&K  Squash Racket Association, J&K Table Tennis Association, J&K Wrestling Association, J&K TenniKoit Association, J&K Body Building Association, J&K Amateur Kabaddi Association, J&K Kho-Kho Association, J&K Rugby Association, J&K Pencak Silat Association, Archery Association of J&K, Winter Games Association and All J&K Chess Association for early election to bring transparency and smooth functioning of the concerned Association.
“These Associations are running illegally because their term have been completed and these bodies are holding various sports activities under the banner of the Council for the long time,” said an official of the Council, adding that in both the division, the premier body of sports appointed ‘Returning Officers’ including Advocate Anshuja Tak for Jammu division and Law Department’s Deputy Legal Remembrance, Musbat Ismail for Kashmir division.
He further said that unless elections are conducted and affiliation and recognition is not revised. These sports bodies are to be treated as invalid, he added, adding that the grants have also been installed till the elections are not conducted by the concerned Association.
The Council also directed the Associations to complete the underline mandatory formalities before the election process for office bearers in accordance with procedures including the office bearer of the Association shall be free from the political affiliation and submit a non-political involvement certificate from the concerned District Magistrate before casting ballot.
The president of the Association can hold the office for a maximum period of 12 years with or without break, while secretary general, secretary and treasurer may serve the Association a maximum of two successive terms of four years each after which a minimum cooling off period of four years will apply to seek fresh election to either post.
The president, secretary general and treasurer shall cease to hold that post on attaining the age of 70 years and the Association shall publish the list in print media at least 15 days before the conduct of election for inviting objections, if any.
No office bearer of the association shall be eligible to the office bearers simultaneously in other associations except Olympic Association. No Govt employees except with the prior permission of the Govt hold or continue to hold any office in any sports association in the States/UTs or National Sports Federation/Association and no Council employee shall hold office of any sports association of the UT.
The person who is debarred or banned by the Council for occupation of any post in any association shall not contest election for any post. The Association shall give voting rights to outstanding sports persons or national and international repute of the last five year in addition to district units/association for electing the principal executive body.
However, active players shall not contest for election of office bearers. For this purpose the association should have at least 25 percent members as outstanding sports persons and 10 percent as women players and elections shall be held through secret ballot under the supervision of Returning officers.
Some of the sportspersons expressed happiness over the development and said that through this exercise, the Council will bring transparency in the non functional associations which have been running in violation of norms for a long time.