Praful Patel has no mandate to proceed as All India Football Federation president as he has already served three phrases and the nationwide physique ought to maintain elections with out additional delay, the Sports Ministry has knowledgeable the Supreme Court.
In an affidavit to the Supreme Court on April 8 in relation to a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the AIFF, the sports activities ministry stated Patel’s tenure was in violation of the Sports Code.
“…the term of existing committee (of AIFF) is already over, and the existing president (Praful Patel) has completed more than 12 years as president, the petitioner (AIFF) should hold elections without further delay as per extant instructions contained under Sports Code and the instructions issued by the Answering Respondent (sports ministry) from time to time,” the ministry’s affidavit stated.
“That thus the tenure of an office bearer of the Petitioner, such as the president, who has already served 12 years as president of AIFF, will be in violation of the Sports Code, specifically clause 9.3 (iii) of the Sports Code read with the notification dated 01.05.2010.”
Patel accomplished his three phrases and 12 years as AIFF president in December 2020, the utmost permitted to a nationwide sports activities federation (NSF) chief underneath the Sports Code.
The AIFF, nevertheless, didn’t maintain the elections, citing a pending petition within the Supreme Court relating to its structure.
The AIFF moved an utility within the Supreme Court solely a month earlier than its elections have been due, searching for sure clarifications on the standing of its structure, which was underneath scrutiny within the Apex Court since 2017. The case remains to be pending.
The ministry additionally hinted that AIFF may lose its authorities recognition for not adhering to the sports activities code.
“As the final elections held by the petitioner was on 21.12.2016, as such the Petitioner is required to conduct recent elections. While just lately the Answering Respondent (sports activities ministry) renewed the Petitioner’s (AIFF) annual recognition for a yr with impact from 23.10.2020, such recognition is topic to the result of the particular depart petition pending earlier than this honourable court docket.
“Furthermore, the Answering Respondent (sports ministry) in their renewal letter dated 23.10.2020 has categorically stated that the Petitioner (AIFF) needs to bring their constitution in line with provisions of the Sports Code within six months from the date of issue of the letter,” the ministry stated within the affidavit.
In 2017, the Delhi High Court had put aside the election of Patel as AIFF president (within the 2016 AGM) on a petition by senior advocate Rahul Mehra.
But the Supreme Court had stayed the High Court determination, permitting Patel to proceed in his function, whereas additionally appointing former Chief Election Commissioner of India S Y Quraishi and former nationwide captain Bhaskar Ganguly as directors and to formulate the AIFF structure.
Patel has, nevertheless, stated prior to now that he can not contest in any election of the AIFF however one way or the other the polls of the nationwide federation haven’t been held.
In February, on the AIFF AGM in Mumbai, Patel had lastly agreed to represent a committee to look into the matter.
The three-member committee was requested to submit their report in three months.
