Lalitpur, February 4

Acting President of the Rukma Shumsher Rana-led Nepal Olympic Committee, Kishor Bahadur Singh today claimed that his committee was the authentic one and no other institution can use the name and logo of the NOC.

Speaking at a press conference — which was held on the premises of the NOC building after security personnel did not allow them into the office — Singh said that the recent verdicts of the Supreme Court came to their favour and the one led by Jeevan Ram Shrestha was illegal.

“Now that the Supreme Court has declared us the only NOC in Nepal, we urge the Youth and Sports Ministry, National Sports Council and all the national associations to coordinate with us for all sports related activities,” said the former Member Secretary of National Sports Council.

The Supreme Court on January 2 quashed the writ petition filed by NOC President Shrestha against 12 defendants, including Defense Ministry, District Administration Office of Lalitpur and Metropolitan Police Range of Jawalakhel. Shrestha, who is leading the NOC recognised by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC), had filed the writ on May 18 last year after Rana led-faction, reinstated by the Supreme Court, captured the NOC building with the help of security forces in March.

Besides that, the SC also quashed other three writ petitions filed by Kishor Bahadur Singh against former NOC President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan and General Secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha in October 2011, and also annulled Umesh Bahadur Maskey’s petition against Defense Ministry and six other defendants filed in November 2011. The apex court also quashed Maskey’s another petition filed against Nepal Rastra Bank and other six defendants in November 2011.

Asked about international affiliation, Singh said his committee was in talks with the IOC and OCA. “We could not do anything as Shrestha had moved the court. As we have got the verdict from the Supreme Court, we will write to the international bodies. We hope to get the recognition soon,” said Singh.

The NOC controversies date back to the 2007 elections when a couple of officials from Rana-led faction moved the court challenging the change of guard. Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan was elected as the president from the elective general assembly and he served for eight years before Shrestha took over in 2015.