Eminent sports administrator Prananbananda Das files suit against Assam Olympic Association

May 10: Assam Olympic Association (AOA) affiliated to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 5 May, 2022 resolved to cease the membership, that is, affiliation of District Sports Association (DSA), Silchar. Since then, the decision of AOA was resented by sports lovers not only in Silchar (Cachar), but in the entire sports arena of Barak Valley.

Established in 1957, the prestigious Silchar DSA is associated with names of eminent sports personalities of the valley. Scrapping of its membership is indeed viewed as an ‘insulting episode’ in its chequered history of its journey of 65 long years. Unable to digest the “humiliating act” inflicted upon by the Assam Olympic Association (AOA), eminent journalist cum sports administrator Pranabananda Das, who is also a member of the Governing Body of DSA Silchar filed a suit at District court of Silchar against “the unilateral decision of scrapping the affiliation of District Sports Association (DSA), Silchar by the Assam Olympic Association (AOA).

On Tuesday, this and many other startling facts interconnected with this incident was revealed by journalist Prananbanda Das in a press meet. Mr Das was accompanied by Advocate Soumen Choudhury during the press meet. Airing his views, Pranabananda Das said, “As being a person associated with sports for more than 3 decades, the decision of AOA of scrapping the membership of DSA Silchar for without any real justification is indeed a matter of great insult not only for the DSA but also for all sports lovers associated with it. I regard this act also as an insult for those eminent sports personalities of the valley who toiled hard for the establishment of DSA, Silchar. I had but no other way to knock the doors of the judiciary to regain our rightful place snatched away in a manner which is not befitting. It is in this context, that I filed a suit at Silchar court through my lawyer Soumen Choudhury on Monday.”

Narrating the incident, Pranabananda Das said, “DSA Silchar has been alleged of violating the constitution in its routine functioning. However, a summary analysis of the events would reveal that such allegations does not hold any good and rather it’s an unilateral act by the Assam Olympic Association to demean Silchar DSA for reasons best known to them.” Pointing out towards the AGM conducted by AOA on 5 May, 2022, Mr Das said, “Surprisingly, you will find that it’s not the DSA Silchar, but the AOA, which has functioned in blatant violation of their own constitution. As per the constitution of AOA, for any proposal for amendment of its constitution, a Special General Meeting (SGM) needs to be convened. However, AOA instead of convening an SGM choose to go for an AGM wherein they amended their constitution.”

“Moreover, what needs emphasis here is that the matter relating to Silchar DSA was not an agenda item for the AGM of AOA which was scheduled to be held on 5 May. But surprisingly, inspite of this, such a vital issue was raised in the AGM of AOA on 5 May and the affiliation of Silchar DSA was ceased! What is more surprising is that the AOA as per their constitution needs to send the notice of AGM atleast 21 days prior to such meetings. But once again, AOA violated its own constitution and convened the AGM by giving a prior notice of only 18 days, added Mr Das. Showing the notice of the AGM of 5 May, he added, “Look, this notice was served on 18 May for the AGM to be held on 5 May! Is not it a violation of their own constitution by AOA?”

“Those who stay in glass houses should not throw stones at others. We are imparted lessons on abiding by the provisions of the constitution by an association which itself is involved in violation of its own Constitution multiple times,” uttered Prnanbananda Das, who also happens to be the Secretary of Table Tennis Club, Udharbond. He in strong terms asserted that AOA has lost its credibility and so before pointing fingers at DSA Silchar should go for self- introspection. In an ironical note, he added, “Silchar DSA was represented in the said AGM by two of its office bearers, which was termed as illegal by AOA! That would also mean that the decisions arrived in that meeting attended by members from “illegal” association would also automatically become illegal and hence, should be adjudged as null and void!” He also added that during that phase, the then Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who also happens to be the President of AOA visited Silchar. A delegation of DSA Silchar met him and discussed the issue. Mr Sonowal also assured them of positive help.

Raising another point, Prananbananda Das said, “For amendment of the constitution, the rule states that the members needs to be provided a prior intimation in writing. But this rule too was violated by the AOA. What I feel is that AOA wants to dissolve the elected body of Silchar DSA by hook or by crook so that they could set up a puppet committee here and through which they could retain their hegemony over it to satisfy their own ulterior motives.” He also raised a very serious allegation of “AOA trying to wrap up Silchar DSA in a coffin so that all sporting activities of this region gets sealed inside this coffin.”

Pointing out further legal anomalies committed by AOA, Advocate Soumen Choudhury said, “The AOA can terminate members of any of its affiliates on only two grounds. The first in case if any affiliate does not regularly participate in the sports events organised by AOA. Secondly, if any affiliate does not give the annual membership fee of AOA. Apart from these two conditions, AOA is not authorised to cease the membership of any of its affiliate. But in this instance, Silchar DSA fulfilled both these conditions and yet AOA cancelled its affiliation. AOA has got just no rights to interfere in the internal affairs of Silchar DSA. For these and many other such violations of rules and regulations, we have filed a suit at the District Court here in Silchar bearing No. 101/2022.”

Later on in a candid discussion with way2barak, sports administrator Prananbanada Das was asked the reason for coming forward and knocking the doors of judiciary. To this he said, “Look, I am associated with this issue since 2019 when after the Biannual General Meeting of Silchar DSA held in November 2019, the AOA stated that the AGM was not held as per the provisions of the constitution and so ascribed the new committee formed as illegal. I took personal interest as a mediator between the AOA and DSA Silchar. They had given the condition of amending the constitution of DSA Silchar and then conduct the AGM once again. However, the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic followed by nationwide lockdown since March 2020 was a great hindrance in accomplishing these tasks.We constantly sought guidance of AOA and also replied to all letters sent to DSA. But when faced with Covid pandemic, DSA wrote to AOA for their guidance, they refrained from giving any reply to the letter send by DSA till date.”

It needs mention here that the “controversial AGM of AOA” held on 5 May, 2022 adopted the resolution which was issued on 7 May, 2022. The said resolution was signed by Lakhya Konwar, General Secretary of AOA. It stated, “The Annual General Meeting of Assam Olympic Association held on 5th May 2022 at Vivanta by Taj, Guwahati has unanimously resolved to cease the membership, i.e., affiliation of District Sports Association (DSA) Silchar for the following reasons

• a. The election held in the BGM on 24-11-2019 to elect the current Governing Body of District Sports Association Silchar was unconstitutional.
• b. The Governing Body elected in the unconstitutional election tried to disaffiliate 20 of its member units through a SGM to be held on 31/10/2021.
• c. District Sports Association Silchar made some derogatory and unacceptable comments on Assam Olympic Association in Media which were largely published on 02/11/2021.”

Responding to this, senior journalist Pranabanada Das and Advocate Soumen Choudhury refuted all these allegations against DSA to be “baseless”. However, though both of them regarded the entire episode as unfounded, but at the same time uttered not a single word either against Lakhya Konwar, General Secretary of AOA nor against the erstwhile GS of DSA Silchar, Subimal Dhar. Mr Das rather deposited great trust in the law of the land and was optimistic about positive intervention by the judiciary into this whole episode.