Government asks AITA to explain Khanna's role

BENGALURU: The Union sports ministry has taken exception to the All India Tennis Association's decision to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) and election earlier this month without informing the government. It also questioned the federation about the election of life president and "his role and powers in the working of AITA."
In a letter to AITA, the ministry pointed out that as per the national sports code, all national sports federations are required to intimate the government well in advance about holding of AGMs in which important decisions are taken or elections held.
In its September 3 election, AITA chose Anil Khanna as its life president besides several other office-bearers. Khanna had declined to take up the post of president till the row over sports code was resolved. The problem related to his election as AITA president for the 2012-2016 term after he had served as the federation secretary for two consecutive terms. The ministry had asked him to step down as the code prescribes a cooling period of four years if an office-bearer seeks re-election after serving two successive terms.
The ministry is now keen to know whether the post of life president is titular or is vested with executive powers. It also said that it could not send its observer for the elections as it had not been informed about the AGM.
"AITA did not intimate the ministry about the election meeting as a result of which the government could not send its observer for the elections. Therefore, AITA is requested to inform the reasons for not intimating the ministry about the meeting," it said in the letter. The ministry has also sought details about the nominations received for the posts, the list of electoral college, age and tenure details of the officebearers, name and address and contact details of the returning officer.