PANAJI
In a significant development affecting the election process of the Cycling Association of Goa (CAG), the High Court of Bombay at Goa has intervened in a contentious membership dispute, ordering an urgent Executive Committee (EC) meeting to address the controversial induction of 66 new members.
The dispute centers on allegations that the General Secretary admitted 66 new members without obtaining formal approval from the EC”raising serious concerns about procedural violations and potential manipulation of the electoral process.
Petitioners challenged an earlier order of the Inspector General of Societies that had validated these memberships, arguing that due administrative process was bypassed.
In its latest directive, the High Court has ordered that a special EC meeting be convened on April 12, to deliberate and take a final call on the disputed memberships.
To ensure transparency, the court has appointed Advocate Shivan Desai as an independent observer to oversee the proceedings and submit a report.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 16, when the EC’s decision and the observer’s findings will be placed before the court.
During the hearings, the court noted a crucial gap in the association’s governance framework”its bye-laws reportedly do not clearly define eligibility criteria or procedures for admitting new members.
Legal experts say this ambiguity has contributed significantly to the current dispute, allowing differing interpretations and administrative inconsistencies.
While the court has clarified that it will not interfere in the election process at an intermediate stage, it has stressed that the membership issue must be resolved lawfully before final results are declared.
The outcome of the EC meeting is therefore expected to have a direct bearing on who gets to vote and contest in the upcoming elections.
A senior cyclist Chetan Salkar welcomed the court’s intervention, stating: “This is a necessary step to restore credibility in the system. Membership cannot be decided unilaterally”there has to be transparency and collective decision-making.”
“The future of the sport in Goa depends on fair governance. We hope the EC meeting will bring clarity and ensure that genuine members are not sidelined,” he added.
