The Murder of Basketball in Goa - Basketball Players/ supporters petition Government to intervene and take action
1-06-2013 To, Hon' ble CM, Sports Minister, Chief Secretary, Sports Secretary, Director(DSYA), Executive Director(SAG) & President/ Secretary(Goa Olympic Association). Subject: Illegalities in Goa Basketball Association – Immediate action & intervention required Dear Sir, We, the undersigned Basketball Players (Past and present) and supporters of the game; dismayed, disenchanted and frustrated over the state of affairs of Goa Basketball Association since last more than 20 years, do hereby wish to bring to your kind attention the following: 1. Democracy has been murdered in Goa Basketball Association. The sport of basketball has been hijacked and held to ransom by two individuals, namely Mr. C.F. Vaz and Mr. Shekhar Jain, who are illegally and unconstitutionally functioning as the President and Secretary of Goa Basketball Association(GBA) even though their terms have expired long back. This is being done by them in connivance and conspiracy with certain Basketball Federation of India (BFI) Officials which is bringing disrepute to the game in Goa. No elections have been held since last more than 15 years and their functioning is a cruel deception being played on the basketball players and/or other supporters of the game. 2. These two individuals for their personal benefits have brought the standard of the sport down drastically and are virtually occupying power without exercising any sense of responsibilities. 3. The Government has remained a silent spectator against these severe illegalities and malfunctioning even as young students and/or players who have taken up to basketball are being denied the benefits of sports policies and other sports related schemes. Sports Kits/ Travelling and Daily allowances, Railway fares, etc are all being denied to participating players. 4. The Goa Basketball Association has now also lost its legal status, having been declared as an unregistered Society under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Yet, funds are being raised by Vaz/ Jain in the name of the Association, which is a serious violation and a gross abuse of the process of law. 5. Mr. Shekhar Jain, being a Central Government Servant and a senior Officer (Superintendent of Central Excise) cannot hold post of elective office in a Sports Association/ Federation for a period of more than 4 years, being barred to do so by Sports Ministry Circular dated 4 February 2010. Mr Shekhar Jain has already served more than 20 years in the Association and though this circular having been brought to his notice previously, he has refused to step down which shows a complete lack of respect for law. Through such actions, Mr. Jain has indulged in conduct unbecoming of a Government Servant and his continuation as Secretary in the Association becomes untenable. 6. Mr. Vaz and Mr. Jain have neither called for fresh elections after the expiry of their terms nor have they allowed the enrollment of new members. This is being done by them solely with the ulterior motive of holding on to power perpetually; which they are doing so despite lacking players/ club support. The membership of the Association is presently stagnated at less than a dozen, which is a colossal shame for a sports loving state like Goa and depicts the existing picture and style of functioning of the present illegally functioning committee. 7. The leading clubs have all dissociated themselves from the Association and the Mr Vaz/ Jain are wielding power with neither club support nor player support. The Association has been unable to announce proper annual calendar year after year, and clubs which organize tournaments are doing so on their own without any Association support. 8. The Association has been de-recognised by the Sports Authority of Goa as well as the Goa Olympic Association and yet, Mr Vaz/ Jain have been selecting teams which represent Goa, which is being done through wrongful means and/or other corrupt practices. The selection of teams has been arbitrary and non transparent which often results in players of lesser distinction getting selected and better players left aside. Goa’s performance at the National level has suffered on account of this. 9. The adoption of good governance practices is essential for healthy sports culture. It is precisely for this reason that the Government of India has instituted the National Sports Development Code. The SAG too has formulated its own guidelines dated 7-03-2011. Mr. C.F. Vaz and Mr. Shekhar Jain have completely violated the Sports Code as well as the SAG guidelines, particularly the ones related to age and tenure clauses and other norms pertaining to good governance. 10. There have been various other irregularities in the submission of Accounts to SAG and/or other Government authorities and other serious violations of Societies Registration Act, where it has been previously registered. Due to the aforesaid violations and the gross abuse of laws, we the undersigned request you to kindly take the following corrective measures for bringing about the much needed change and transformation in the functioning of basketball in Goa: a. Appoint an Administrator or an ad-hoc committee to run the affairs of the Association for a short period until free and fair elections can be properly held. b. Open up the enrollment of new members and give basketball players/ fans and clubs the opportunity to join the Association and be a part of the governance process. c. Uproot the politics, corruption and nepotism that is presently there in the sport. d. Ensure that the sport is free from manipulation and self serving individuals. e. Take any other corrective measures which the Government deems appropriate in the light of the facts mentioned herein above. As Goa is hosting the ‘Lusofonia Games’ within the next few months and Basketball is also one of the sports which will be held here, we pray that immediate action is taken to address our genuine concerns. We have waited for a long time to get proper justice and we will be compelled to resort to measures such as peaceful protests and black flag marches during the games or its build-up, which will unnecessarily tarnish the conduct of the games if our genuine concerns are not addressed. 2 individuals must not be allowed to hold the entire game to ransom through their deceptive and wrongful actions. Your personal action in addressing these issues will be greatly appreciated. We hope the Government will step in to bring about the much needed change that we have been waiting for for getting the sport rescued from its lingering crisis. Thanking You Yours sincerely Basketball Players/ Fans(Petition endorsed by 100 signatories so far including most current Basketball Players) Others wanting to add their names may kindly message me or send email to [email protected], mentioning their names and contact telephone/ mobile numbers. Thanks :)
