2 factions in golf body set to hold separate elections

The Indian Golf Union (IGU) is mired in faction fights. The falling out between IGU president Brijinder Singh and secretary general Harish Shetty has meant that both factions will end up holding elections with different electoral rolls and returning officers.

The Shetty group, in fact, has already finished holding its election — Shetty was elected as president alongside Basant Kumar Repswal as secretary general on Wednesday. The Singh-led group will hold the election on December 15 after the Delhi High Court refused to intervene in a petition filed by the Bengal Golf Association challenging its removal from the electoral roll and the changing of returning officer Justice (retd) OP Garg at the last moment.

Singh changed Justice Garg after first removing BGA and four other units that were likely to side with Shetty in the elections. He appointed Justice Permod Kohli and then finally Justice (Retd.) Rameshwar Singh Malik for the elections.

The Delhi High Court refused to interfere with the election process as elections are to be held within days.

“Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner, IGU, and the Union of India, I am of the view that it is inappropriate at this stage to interfere with the election process. The poll is scheduled to be held in five days, and any controversy can be raised in challenge to the election results, rather than during the process,” Justice Prateek Jalan said in his order.