The Delhi High Court has appointed Justice Najmi Waziri (Retired) as Chairperson of an ad- hoc Administrative Committee to supervise the administration of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI).
The court also appointed SY Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India as observer/member and Rohini Musa, Advocate as member of the committee.
The Committee shall take over charge of the day-to-day administration and functioning of the Equestrian Federation of India. The Administrative Committee will have the power to issue all appropriate directions as may be necessary for the day-to-day functioning of EFI under the signatures of the Chairperson.
The bench of Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju in an order passed on May 21, 2024, said the interest of the justice would be served if an ad- hoc Administrative Committee is appointed to supervise the administration of the EFI. To maintain continuity, the Observer previously appointed shall continue as a member of the AAC.
The court further clarified that "ordinarily, a Writ Court will not interfere in the Administration of a National Sports Federation, however, where there is clear impropriety and the administration is being carried on in an arbitrary or capricious or perverse manner, such a situation once brought to the notice of the Court, cannot be ignored either".
Pending the conduct of elections, the EFI cannot be left without any office bearers. However, in view of what has been discussed above, this Court cannot in good conscience leave the functioning. of the EFI solely in the hands of those office bearers whose tenure has expired and who are acting in a capricious manner and in violation of the directives of the Court.
The Court noted that the Petitioner who is a State Federation, has filed the present petition seeking a restraint on the holding of elections of the Executive Committee. The Petitioner had alleged that the Respondent EFI is conducting elections in contravention of the National Sports Development Code, 2011 by extending voting rights to clubs and institutions.
The bench passed an order during the hearing an application moved by Rajasthan Equestrian Association challenging the decision taken in EFI's Extra Ordinary General Meeting that the existing office bearers shall continue till elections take place, despite their tenure coming to an end in September last year. It was contended that no such decision was taken by the house during the EGM.
The plea, which was moved in 2019, raised allegations against the EFI that it was conducting elections in contravention of the National Sports Development Code, 2011 and has extended voting rights to clubs and institutions.
The bench further stated that a Coordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Manika Batra v. Table Tennis Federation of India through the President & Ors.6 after noting down irregularities being committed in the functioning of the Table Tennis Federation of India had similarly passed directions for appointment of an Administration Committee to discharge. functions of the Federation.
In a batch of Petitions, the lead being Haryana State Judo Association v. Judo Federation of India & Ors.7, a Coordinate Bench of this Court on finding that the term of the executive body has come to an end, and that there are irregularities in compliances with the National Sports Code, has passed a similar order for the appointment of an administrator of the Judo Federation of India.
(ANI)
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