Latest news with #SocietiesRegistrationAct
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
New TNFA president Shanmugam sets forth his agenda to revive the sport in the State
Former Tamil Nadu football team captain S. Shanmugam, who was elected president of the Tamil Nadu Football Association (TNFA) last Saturday in an election held for the first time since 2014, spoke about his agenda over a phone call on Saturday. 'Every year, the association's registration is to be renewed with the Registrar of Societies under the Societies Registration Act (1860). This hasn't been done for a few years. Thus, the association is unable to receive grants from the SDAT and AIFF. So, my foremost task is to renew our registration,' he said. Claiming that the State championships for all age categories, including the senior category, have been discontinued for several years now, he said that he aims to revive them. 'The probables for the Nationals were selected from those tournaments. Around 40 would be selected first, and 20 would then be shortlisted for a 10-15 day camp for the Nationals. I intend to bring that back into practice. 'For instance, the junior (boys and girls) National football championship is to be held from July 10 to 25. For that, the State championships have been planned to be held for boys in Virudhunagar and for girls in Dindigul from June 20 to 27,' he said. The 62-year-old said that he wants to make it mandatory for the District associations to conduct their annual league, like the Chennai Football Association's senior division league. 'There was this Champions Club Trophy for the District league champions, which has been discontinued for around nine years now. The event helped clubs earn points for entry into the I-League. Consequently, the possibility of our (TN) clubs getting into the I-League has reduced. So, it is to be revived as well,' he added. Saying that he also intends to revive the premier National tournaments of the past across the State — like the Vittal Trophy and TFA Shield in Chennai and the Rockfort Trophy in Tiruchi — by getting into talks with the original sponsors, he added that there is a Super League Kerala-type 'Tamil Nadu Premier Football League' in the pipeline. 'It will have eight teams and will be played in the home-and-away format.' He further stated that a four- or five-member advisory committee will be formed, naming two members: the former CFA senior division league club and I-League champion Chennai City FC owner, Rohit Ramesh, and the Viva Chennai FC (CFA senior division) and Gokulam Kerala FC (I-League) owner, Praveen. Rohit currently also owns a minority stake of the Cambodian Club Angkor Tiger FC.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 2 sports bodies booked on corruption charges
The Division Number 8 police have registered two separate FIRs against the office bearers of the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) and Badminton association following serious allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement and betrayal of trust. FIR against LDCA office bearers was lodged following a complaint filed by Pankaj Dogra and Yogesh Khanna on behalf of Ludhiana Old Cricket Players' Association. According to the complainants, the newly elected executive committee of the LDCA, which assumed office on November 7, 2020, had promised to induct former players as members and bring transparency and fairness to the functioning of the association. However, those promises were allegedly broken soon after the elections. The association's leadership was accused of favouring a few individuals under political influence, while ignoring many old players who had supported their campaign and even contributed financially to legal battles for reform. The complainants further alleged that since the new committee took charge, no annual general meetings were held, and no financial records or audit reports were made public, despite it being a legal requirement under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. They claimed that from April 2020 to the present, the LDCA has failed to disclose its financial statements or maintain transparency regarding its functioning. Adding to the concerns, the association alleged that the LDCA was charging ₹2,000 per month from local cricketers for access to the association's ground. Those unable to pay were allegedly denied entry and practice opportunities, raising questions about the fairness and inclusivity of the current system. The complainants also revealed that they had organised a press conference in March 2022 to raise these issues publicly, and it was during this event that they learned from reliable sources about alleged financial irregularities and misappropriation of public funds within the LDCA. They emphasised that despite repeated appeals to the LDCA for transparency, financial accountability and fair treatment of players, the leadership ignored their concerns. They urged the authorities to immediately dissolve the current executive body and appoint an interim apex committee to oversee the association's operations until fresh elections are conducted. Sub-inspector Paramjit Singh, who is investigating the matter, stated that the FIR was lodged following an investigation. The accused have been booked under Sections 420 and 120 B of IPC. The other FIR has been lodged following the complaint of Anand Tiwari, who alleged that the association office bearers were charging fee from the players, while the practice and coaching here was free.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi HC stays CAG audit of Ajmer Sharif dargah's accounts
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has stayed the Comptroller and Auditor General's proposed audit of Ajmer Sharif dargah's accounts. Justice Sachin Datta granted the interim stay on the pleas of Anjuman Moinia Fakhria Chishtiya Khuddam Khwaja Sahib Syedzadgan Dargah Sharif, Ajmer in Rajasthan, and another registered society. The court, in its May 14 order, found credibility in the petitioners' contention that the requirements under Section 20 of the CAG Act were not applied or satisfied in the case. The provision deals with the audit of accounts of certain authorities or bodies. "It is also informed by the counsel appearing for CAG that the audit of the petitioner has not yet commenced even thereafter... as an interim measure, it is directed that till the next date of hearing, no further steps shall be taken by the CAG pursuant to communication dated January 30, 2025," the order, made available on May 21, said. The court then posted the matter on July 28. CAG opposed the pleas challenging its process of auditing the accounts of the dargah, saying it duly followed the procedure of the law. The court was hearing the pleas alleging unlawful search or visit of CAG officials in the office premises of the petitioners without notice or information which was contrary to the provisions of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Act, 1971 and the Societies Registration Act, 1860. CAG in its reply said the Ministry of Minority Affairs on March 14, 2024 already informed the petitioner that to improve the management of dargah affairs the central authority proposed an audit and provided an opportunity to make a representation against such audit. "It is a matter of record that representation was duly made by the petitioner wherein they submitted their objections to the proposed audit by the CAG and the same grounds as are being envisaged in this petition were mentioned therein. The respondent 1 vide letter dated October 17, 2024 disposed of the objections of the petitioner and thus the mandate of the Act has been duly followed," it said. CAG said the authorisation of President of India has been received and it was informed to the CAG by the Ministry of Finance through a January 30 this year letter. The petitioners, however, argued the mandatory statutory procedure for such audits, as set out in the CAG Act, stipulates that the ministry concerned should send a communication to CAG. It said the communication should seek to have the petitioner society audited by CAG, the terms and conditions based on which the audit should be conducted, be agreed upon between CAG and the ministry concerned, and subsequently the terms and conditions ought to be served on the petitioner, following which it is entitled to make a representation to ministry concerned. It also requires, first, President's or Governor's assent before the terms of audit are agreed to.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Iskcon Bengaluru owns Hare Krishna temple, says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that ISKCON Bangalore was the rightful owner of the iconic Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru, ending a 24-year-old legal dispute with ISKCON Mumbai over the ownership and control of the temple and its associated property. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih allowed ISKCON Bangalore's appeal, setting aside a 2011 judgment by the Karnataka high court that had ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai. The court said that ISKCON Bangalore is an independent legal entity and that the society cannot be treated as a branch of ISKCON Mumbai. ISKCON Mumbai was founded in 1966 by Srila Prabhupada and is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. It claimed that ISKCON Bangalore, registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act in July 1978, was its branch and that the temple property belonged to the Mumbai society. In 2001, ISKCON Bangalore filed a suit seeking declarations that it was the absolute owner of the property in question, that ISKCON Mumbai had no authority over its affairs, and that Mumbai-based office bearers be permanently restrained from interfering. In 2009, the trial court ruled in favour of ISKCON Bangalore, recognising its ownership and granted it a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai. The court also dismissed ISKCON Mumbai's claim that Bangalore was merely a branch office and that the Mumbai society had rights over both properties. However, in 2011, the Karnataka high court reversed the trial court's decision, holding that ISKCON Bangalore was a branch of ISKCON Mumbai and that the temple property belonged to the latter. The Supreme Court's verdict restores the decree passed by the trial court and affirms ISKCON Bangalore's independent status. ISKCON Bangalore hailed the court's judgment. 'In essence, ISKCON Mumbai has been injuncted from interfering with the management of ISKCON Bengaluru. They can no longer expel from ISKCON, thousands of devotees who want to accept only Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON,' Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of ISKCON Bangalore, said in a statement.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
CAG opposes in Delhi HC plea against audit of Ajmer Sharif Dargah accounts
New Delhi, The Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Thursday opposed in the Delhi High Court a plea challenging its process of auditing the accounts of Ajmer Sharif Dargah and claimed adherence to the legal procedure. Justice Sachin Datta, who was informed about the CAG's reply to the dargah's plea, granted time to petitioners to file a rejoinder and posted the hearing on May 7. The court was hearing a plea by Anjuman Moinia Fakhria Chishtiya Khuddam Khwaja Sahib Syedzadgan Dargah Sharif, Ajmer, and another registered society against "unlawful search/visit by the officials of the CAG at the office premises of the petitioner" without any prior notice contrary to the provisions of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Act, 1971 and Societies Registration Act. The petitioners sought a direction to the respondents not to conduct audit of the petitioner societies being contrary to the provisions of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Act, 1971 and the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The CAG's response said the Ministry of Minority Affairs on March 14, 2024 already informed the petitioner that to improve the management of dargah affairs an audit by the CAG is proposed and provided an opportunity to make a representation against such audit. "It is a matter of record that representation was duly made by the petitioner wherein they submitted their objections to the proposed audit by the CAG and the same grounds as are being envisaged in this petition were mentioned therein. The respondent No. 1 vide letter dated October 17, 2024 disposed of the objections of the petitioner and thus the mandate of the Act has been duly followed," it said. The authority further said the authorisation of President was received and it was informed to the CAG by the Ministry of Finance through a January 30 this year letter. The petitioners argued the mandatory statutory procedure for such audits, as set out in the CAG Act, stipulated that the ministry concerned should sent a communication to CAG. The communication, they said, should seek to have the petitioner society audited by CAG and comprise the terms and conditions based on which the audit should be conducted in addition to being agreed upon between CAG and the ministry concerned. Subsequently the terms and conditions should be served on the petitioner following which it was entitled to make a representation to ministry concerned, they added. The petitioners said it also required, firstly, President's or Governor's assent before the terms of audit were agreed upon. On April 28, the court indicated it was inclined to stay the CAG process of auditing the accounts of the dargah and asked the CAG's counsel to take instructions on the issue and make clear his stand. The court was informed by the dargah's counsel that they hadn't been served with the terms of the audit.
