Supreme Court Orders Status Quo On Delhi HC Direction Placing Indian Olympic Association Under Committee Of Administrators

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered status quo with respect to the Delhi High Court's order which placed the affairs of Indian Olympic Association under  a Committee of Administrators constituted by the High Court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justice CT Ravikumar passed the order on an urgent mentioning made by the Indian Olympic Association. The bench was informed that the Committee of Administrators is yet to take over the IOA. In this backdrop, the bench passed the status quo order and listed the case next Monday.

The Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Government, stated that it was a "sensitive national matter" as at an international level, appointment of CoA was seen as outside interference and thus, could lead to the suspension of IOA. He cited the example of suspension of the All India Football Federation by the FIFA.

"According to their(International Olympic Committee) rules, if any national body is governed by a non- elected body, it is seen as outside interference.The moment Committee of Administrators take over, 99 % chance is that India will get suspended from Olympics. This is a matter of national prestige", the SG submitted.

After hearing the submissions of the counsel for the IOA and the Solicitor General, the bench passed the following order:

"The counsel for petitioner as well as SG submits that by virtue of present order, there is a possibility of losing chance to participate in all international event. It is stated it is not in the interest of nation. We ask the parties to maintain status quo. List the matter before appropriate bench on Monday".

What was the High Court's order?

The Delhi Court's order passed on August 16 by a division bench comprising of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Manmohan was based on the fact that the IOA committee was not continuing as per the National Sports Code. The bench had concluded that if a sports federation did not comply with the law of the land, it would receive no recognition from the Government and the benefits and facilities to it would stop promptly. Accordingly, the affairs of IOA were put in the hands of a Committee of Administrators (CoA).

Accordingly, the Court appointed the following as the members of CoA:

- Justice Anil R. Dave, former Judge of the Supreme Court.

- Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, IAS, former Chief Election Commissioner.

- Vikas Swarup, IFS, Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs.

The Court also appointed the following as Consultant Sportspersons:

- Abhinav Bindra (from Uttarakhand) Sport-Shooter, Olympic Gold Medalist.

- Anju Bobby George (from Kerala), Long Jump Olympian.

- Devi Laishram (from Manipur), Archer Olympian.

The development ensued in a 2010 petition filed by Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra seeking the constitution of the Indian Olympic Association as per the elections held in accordance with the National Sports Code.

It may be noted that on August 16, the FIFA had suspended the AIFF citing the Supreme Court's order constituting a CoA to take over its affairs as an "undue influence from third parties".

Click Here To Read/Download Order