Sports Ministry suspends Paralympic Committee of India over delay in conducting elections

The Sports Ministry has suspended the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) with immediate effect for failing to conduct elections on time and non-compliance with guidelines. In its suspension order, the Sports Ministry yesterday pointed out that the term of Executive Committee of PCI ended on the 31st of January.

Whereas the last elections of PCI were held in September 2019, due to an order passed by the Delhi High Court staying the notification of election dated 03.09.2019, and the returning officer was also restrained from declaring the result of the elections. As such, the results of the election were not declared. 

The Ministry also said that the election to form a new Committee should have been conducted before the “expiry of the term of the previous Executive Committee.” The Ministry further said that the upcoming elections to form a new Committee will be held on the 28th of February in Bengaluru.