New Delhi, May 13 (IANS): The sports ministry, answering back to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which said it must not fix tenures of officials of the national sports federations, has pointed out that the IOC changed its own rules to restrict tenure and limit age of office bearers.

In a hard-hitting communication to IOC president Jacques Rogge Wednesday, joint secretary in the sports ministry Injeti Srinivas wrote that it was "surprised that in such a fundamental matter as good democracy and clean elections in the National Olympic Committees (NOC), you do not wish to take any position except to say that no matter how unacceptable the situation, the national authorities or courts of the country are not to look their way."

The ministry was responding to the IOC's NOC relations department director Pere Miro's letter Monday, which said that according Olympic Charter "such measures must be decided freely and democratically by the competent organs of those organisations."

Writing on behalf of Rogge, Miro said that a decision on fixing of tenure of officials can be taken only by the respective bodies "democratically".

"As we stated clearly in our letter May 3 to IOC member Randhir Singh, which came to your knowledge, the issue is not whether a limitation on the number of terms of office and or an age limit within the organisations of the Olympic Movement (including the NOC) and national federations is appropriate or not. Each one has an opinion on these issues, which as far as we are concerned we fully respect," Miro said.

"However, our point is that such measures (which relate to the internal operations of these organisations) must not be decided or imposed by law or an external body's decision, but must be decided freely and democratically by the competent organs of those organisations on a case-by-case basis, and this must be reflected in their respective statutes/constitutions," Miro's letter read.

"This is our understanding of what autonomy of Olympic Charter and sports organisations means," he added.

In reply, Srinivas said the IOC changed its own rules as far as restrictions on age and tenures of office bearers are concerned and it should ask NOCs to follow that.

"You have in your own organisation changed your internal rules in 1999 in order to have a reasonable age limit of 70 years, a maximum presidential term of 12 years, and an office bearer’s term of 8 years, to be followed by a break," Srinivas pointed out.

"This has been done perhaps, keeping in mind that in the recent past you have had presidents, and office bearers whose lengthy tenures had invited world comment. Your organisation’s office bearers, voted in by the NOCs/International Federations (IFs), have now with their willing consent put in place rules which prepare the IOC to serve the best interest of sport in the world, in the new century. This step has been widely welcomed."

"However, your present position seems to indicate that what is eminently desirable for the IOC and has been put in place by the votes of the NOCs need not be followed by the NOCs themselves, and they may continue to have office bearers of unacceptable lengths of tenure going on to advanced ages," Srinivas said.

"The IOC wants to stand, well away from this situation in its constituent bodies, simply requiring an election by a very limited voter list every four years. Surely the IOC, while not directing, could in the interest of world sports and the good management of NOCs, advise them to consider the IOC's practice?"

Srinivas said Indian parliamentarians from all parties had strongly urged reasonable age limit to the unending tenures of the office bearers.

"The matter is in court and the ministry have been summoned to furnish on how the elections are conducted by various federations," he explained.

"India is the world’s largest and most vibrant democracy, a fact recognized by all. We have the highest respect for the IOC, and have always been in the forefront of all support for its causes."

"We urge you, to respect our national concerns and sentiments, and assist us, in giving Indian sports, a better deal in the 21st century," he said.