The Sports Ministry has allowed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to continue with its 16-member Executive Council, making an exception to the 15-member limit prescribed under the National Sports Governance Act following a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In a gazette notification, the Ministry said it was exercising its powers under Article 37(2) of the National Sports Governance Act to relax the applicable requirement to the extent necessary for the IOA to remain compliant with the Olympic Charter and IOC statutes.
Why IOA Can Retain 16 Members
The IOA’s existing Executive Council has 16 members, including the IOC member in India, who has voting rights.
The Ministry said the National Sports Governance Act provides that national sports bodies should be primarily guided by international charters and statutes in matters concerning their governance.
The decision followed a request from the IOA after it sent its draft amended Constitution to the IOC for comments.
The IOC recommended that the composition of the Executive Council remain unchanged and that its strength should remain independent of the number of IOC members in India.
Under the arrangement, the Executive Council will comprise 15 members in addition to the IOC member or members in India, allowing the total strength to remain at 16.
Ministry Issues Exemption
The Sports Ministry said it was satisfied that the exemption sought by the IOA was necessary to harmonise the Act’s requirements with the IOC’s governance provisions.
The notification clarified that the requirement under Section 4(1)(b) of the Act would not apply to the IOA to the extent required to accommodate IOC member(s) in India, who are required under the Olympic Charter to serve as ex-officio voting members of the Executive Committee.
The IOA has said it will continue to comply with the other governance requirements under the National Sports Governance Act.
IOA Elections Due Later This Year
The IOA recently amended its Constitution at a Special General Body Meeting to comply with the age and tenure limits prescribed under the new sports governance law.
The association is scheduled to hold its elections later this year.
The latest exemption specifically addresses the composition of its Executive Council and allows the IOA to retain the structure recommended by the IOC.
