Delhi High Court Quashes IOA Order Appointing Ad-Hoc Committee To Look After Affairs Of Bihar Olympic Association

The Delhi High Court has quashed an order passed by the President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA)  constituting a five member Ad-Hoc committee to look after the affairs of the Bihar Olympic Association.

Justice Sachin Datta said that the decision taken on January 01 did not satisfy the requirements of law and deserved to be set aside.

The Court ordered that urgent steps be taken to ensure that the Constitution of the Bihar Olympic Association is amended so as to bring the same in line with the IOA Constitution and the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.

It further said that the elections be held expeditiously to elect the members of the Executive Committee of the Bihar Olympic Association.

“Let the above be done within a period of three months from today, failing which, it shall be open for the IOA to take appropriate disciplinary action against the petitioner including by way of suspension and/or any such measure contemplated under Article 6.1.5 and/or any other provisions of the Constitution of the IOA,” the Court said.

It disposed of a plea moved by the Bihar Olympic Association challenging the decision in question and for quashing the Ad-Hoc Committee in light of the 38th National Games which were to be held from January 28 to February 14.

The Court found merit in the contentions of the Bihar Olympic Association as regards illegality or invalidity of the impugned decision whereby the President of the IOA had purported to appoint an Ad-hoc Committee “to look after the affairs” of the Bihar Olympic Association.

It concluded that the President of IOA cannot be considered to have the power to constitute an Ad Hoc Committee to “look after the affairs” of an State Olympic Association (SOA).

“The IOA Constitution contemplates to “suspend, terminate or expel a member” for violation of the IOA Constitution or the Olympic Charter. However, the power to do so is specifically conferred on the General Assembly of the IOA under Article 6.1.5 of the Constitution,” the Court said.

Emphasizing that constituting an Ad-hoc body “to look after the affairs” of the concerned State Association is akin to suspending the Executive Committee of the concerned SOA, the Court said:

“As such, any proposal to take over, to suspend and/or appoint an ad- hoc body “to look after the affairs” of the concerned SOA should have been taken by the General Assembly of the IOA.”

Counsel for Petitioner: Ms. Neha Singh, Adv

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Vikash Singh and Mr. Ujjwal Chaudhary, Advs. for IOA

Title: BIHAR OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION v. PRESIDENT INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION & ANR.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 242

Click here to read order