Contempt of Court filed against Nepal Olympic Committee

Kathmandu: Six sports associations have filed a contempt of court case against the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) over its decision to amend its statutes.

Releasing a joint statement on Tuesday, the presidents and general secretaries of th six associations unveiled that they complained to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Ethics Commission of the NOC and IOC.

The new controversy sparked in the sports sector after NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha attempted to amend the statutes to secure a third term by allegedly violating the Constitution of Nepal.

Citing potential harm to sports associations seeking membership, the High Court Patan issued an interim order to halt the amendments on Monday.  However, Tuesday’s meeting of the NOC decided to proceed with the amendments despite the court’s order.

President Shrestha decided to amend the statutes during a general assembly, despite the strong opposition and dissatisfaction from several members and officials. He has been charged with bypassing legal provisions, misusing the support from associations, failing to hold elections, losing elections, or being unable to conduct sports activities.

Deepak Devkota, President of the Nepal Rugby Association, stated that a contempt of court case had been filed against the NOC’s decision and that an appeal would be made to the IOC. The associations also claimed that the NOC’s actions violated the interim order of the High Court Patan, constituting contempt of court and damaging its reputation.

Note of Dissent against amendment of Olympic Charter

For a long time, sports associations excluded from the NOC have been demanding membership. However, President Shrestha has made the membership process more complicated through the amendments, leaving about one-third of the associations outside the NOC.

The revised statutes include provisions for a third term for the president, contradicting Nepal’s National Sports Development Act 2077 (2020). Despite directives from the National Sports Council, the executive body of the Nepal government, to postpone the general assembly, the NOC forcefully conducted the assembly on Tuesday.

The Nepal Rugby Association, Nepal Equestrian Association, Nepal Baseball Association, and Nepal Skating Association, frustrated by their exclusion from the NOC, have filed writ petitions with the High Court Patan and joined the protest.