On Monday the Supreme Court of India ruled to extend the status quo of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in its leadership and functional organization.
Last week a Delhi High Court high court had ordered the setting up of a three member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to manage the affairs of the IOA.
The ruling had been influenced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) warning the IOA it might face suspension if they were unable to hold elections in the “coming weeks.”
The ruling also sought to bring the body’s constitution in line with the National Sports Code to now hold elections which have been delayed since December 2021.
However on Sunday the All India Football Federation (AIFF) - led by former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia - approached the Supreme Court seeking its intervention to ensure the body’s electoral college and new constitution are also implemented.
In his plea, Bhutia urged the court to approve the draft constitution before the committee of administrators passes it. He also sought permission to hold the elections under the new norms.
On Friday, Bhutia had filed his nomination for the president’s post in the AIFF elections.
The Supreme court ruled the AIFF election program to be extended by a week after the original August 28 date.
“The directions are in modification of previous directions to facilitate the revocation of suspension of AIFF and holding of U-17 World Cup in order to ensure that the prestige of the nation and ability of players to participate in international tournament is not affected,” the apex court observed.
“The day to day management of AIFF shall be looked after by the AIFF admin by the acting Secy General exclusively. As a consequence, mandate of AIFF ceases to exist,” it added.
A bench of Justices S A Nazeer and J K Maheshwari sought response from the Centre and others on the plea filed by the Association. “Issue notice. Status quo to be continued until further orders, List after four weeks,” the bench said.
As a result the four-week delay will push back the elections and new governance of the IOA.
The high court had appointed a committee of administrators (COA) of former Supreme Court judge Anil Dave, S Y Quraishi, and former Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup.
Despite the four-week setback, the ruling may still allow for new IOA elections and governance to be sorted within the 16 week time frame ruled on by the Delhi court last week. The sooner the better in the eyes of the IOC.
Mumbai, India, is set to host the next IOC Session in 2023. The IOC Session will go back to India 40 years after its 86th edition, which took place in New Delhi in 1983. Having the IOA under good governance is paramount to the IOC.
The IOC had banned the IOA in late 2012 for violating its electoral and government regulations. The suspension was lifted 14 months later during the Sochi 2014 Games.
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