Equestrian Federation of India set to hold first ever elections in compliance with Sports Code

The EFI has not held elections since 2019. It had a flawed system of tenure where elections were held for individual posts every year. The Sports Code (3.18, annexure 2) dictates that a Federation must hold a General Body Meeting (GBM) at least once in a year and a special meeting should be convened over four years to elect the members of the Executive Body including the President, Secretary etc.

This rule was not followed until now but EFI is committed to follow the Sports Code in letter and spirit. Now, the strength of the Executive Committee has been reduced to 12 from earlier 21 to fall in line with the Sports Code. Earlier, EC members were getting elected at different times for a four-year tenure and once that was over, elections were held again to fill the vacant seat.

Never ever the full EC was elected together. "We are committed to implement the changes that are required as per the Sports Code. I got elected in 2019 as Secretary General and since then I am trying to bring about reforms," EFI Secretary General Colonel Jaiveer Singh told PTI.

"Don't ask me why EFI statues were not changed to fall in line with Sports Code earlier. You have to ask people who held positions before me. I am trying to do the needful, though, the process got delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic," Singh added.

Interestingly, the Rajasthan Equestrian Association (REA) has moved the Delhi High Court, asking it to restrain EFI from holding elections and appoint an ad-hoc committee to take over and manage the affairs of the Federation until it amends its Statutes. "I fail to understand why have they moved this application when we have already carried out the required changes. The petitioner (Raghuvendra Singh Dunload) himself was present