AICF remains silent on Sara Bangla’s violation of CCI order

Chennai, June 15 (IANS): In a blatant violation of the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) order against the Indian Chess Federation (AICF), the Sara Bangla Daba Sangstha (SBDS) has publicly announced that players should not participate to tournaments not recognized by it.

In a notice posted on its website, SBDS categorically stated, “It should be remembered that players should only participate in tournaments approved and recognized by Sara Bangla Daba Sangstha. »

SBDS is trying to sabotage the rapid tournament organized by Bhogirath Halder, chess coach and father of Commonwealth Under-16 gold medalist Sneha Halder on 16.6.2024 in Kolkata.

“It is brought to the notice of all concerned that a certain Mr. Bhogirath Halder has published a brochure regarding a tournament supposed to take place on June 16, 2024 which will be conducted (run) by the “Halder Chess Academy” which does not is not a recognized Academy or approved body,” the notice states.

Interestingly, the SBDS notice is dated July 24.

The stipulation that tournaments must be mandatorily recognized by the AICF was deemed illegal and anti-competitive by the ICC in 2018.

On July 12, 2018, the CCI passed an order under Section 27 of the Competition Act imposing a penalty of approximately Rs.6.92 lakh on the AICF for violation of the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of competition law and for its anti-competitive behavior.

The ICC had received information from four chess players who were subject to disciplinary action by the AICF for participating in a chess event not authorized by it. The case concerned several stipulations of the AICF on chess players, organization of chess tournaments, discretionary appointment of players and others.

In its order, the CCI observed that the restrictions imposed by the AICF on chess players from participating in unauthorized events and the punitive consequences arising therefrom restricted the movements of chess players and placed them, as well as the potential organizers of chess tournaments, at a disproportionate disadvantage.

Therefore, such stipulation was considered to be an unreasonable restriction on chess players and a denial of market access to chess event/tournament organizers, in violation of the provisions of Article 4(1) read with 4(2)(b)(1) and Section 4(2)(c) of the Act.

The restrictions imposed on chess players were further held to be in the nature of exclusive distribution and refusal of sale, in violation of Article 3(4)(c) and Article 3 (4)(d) of the Act, the CCI said.

The order that applies to the AICF also applies to its state subsidiaries like SBDS.

Speaking to IANS Halder said, “We have received around 140 registrations for the June 16 tournament. The minimum break-even point is 200 entries. However, the tournament will go ahead as planned.

Regarding the accusation made by SBDS that it could not organize the tournament on March 24, 2024 and did not refund the entry fee, Halder said, “I had paid Rs 4,000 to SBDS as fees recognition of the tournament. As per the standard, SBDS would supply the chessboards, clocks and other items. The March 24 tournament attracted around 300 registrations and was scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. However, SBDS had not sent the boards and clocks to the tournament site until 9 a.m. It was not possible to arrange the boards for 300 players in a short time.

Alleging that SBDS sabotaged its March tournament, Halder, in a complaint filed with the AICF, said: “I contacted Sara Bangla Daba for permission to organize a chess tournament in Kolkata. SBDS Secretary Debasish Barua insisted that he and SBDS Treasurer Asit Baran Choudhury would be the arbiters of the tournament and I had to pay them a hefty sum for their service. When I refused, because I had my own team of referees, they sabotaged my tournament by not providing me with equipment after promising to provide chessboards and clocks. I couldn’t start the tournament on time due to their evil design. The tournament was eventually canceled and I had to suffer a huge financial loss.

Asked about the refund of entrance fees, Halder said: “The entrance fees have been returned to many. Many others have asked me to adjust this amount to entry fees for future tournaments.

“On the other hand, the SBDS has not refunded the 4,000 rupees fee paid for the reconnaissance,” Halder added.

According to Halder, the AICF has not yet responded to his complaint, which is not surprising.

Even after the ICC’s landmark order against the AICF banning chess players – regardless of their age – from participating in private tournaments, this practice continues, particularly in Tamil Nadu.

Chess tournament organizers are also being put in trouble by vested interests who are even contacting payment gateways and urging them to stop accepting entry fees claiming the event is unauthorized.

“After accepting the online registration fee for a tournament, the payment gateway abruptly stopped it. A payment gateway official said that they have received several phone calls saying that our tournament is not allowed and their future business will be affected if they continue to receive entry fees,” an official said of retired army, J.Jeevan Kumar, secretary of Evans Chess Club. IANS by phone from Nagercoil.

According to him, such an incident has already happened to him before.

Last year, three players – M. Karunakaran, 68, V. Palanikumar, 58, and Merryston David Scanny, 48 – were barred from participating in the Tirunelveli district selection tournament at the last moment.

The reason? According to Scanny, Tirunelveli District Chess Development Association secretary B.Paulkumar did not allow them to play as they had already done in a private tournament in Tenkasi district.

In 2019, Paulkumar had banned Karthik Rahul, then aged 11, from participating in a mid-tournament on the grounds that he had played in a private tournament.

However, no action has been taken by the AICF on these issues despite complaints lodged with it.