The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to file its response on a petition against the elections scheduled to be held later this month in violation of the Sports Code.
Justice Purushendra Kumar Kaurav issued notice to the sports association and the Centre on the petition filed by former Indian singles tennis player Somdev Devvarman and doubles player Purav Raja and said that the elections will be subject to the outcome of the petition. Refusing to stay the election at this stage, Justice Purushendra also directed that the results of the elections to be held on September 28 will not be published.
The senior counsel appearing for the petitioners argued that the AITA was conducting the elections ‘in a secret manner’ as ‘there was nothing on the website’. Seeking a stay on the elections, the senior counsel said that the conduct of the AITA was in gross violation of the sports code and the orders passed by the High Court. The court asked the petitioner to make the returning officer of the election a party in the case and asked the respondent parties to file their replies.
The court said that if the elections are later found to be in violation of the code, the elected officials will not be allowed to function and an independent body can be appointed in their place. Justice Purushendra said, “I am not imposing a stay. A lot of preparation is required for the elections.
If the election process is conducted in defiance of the existing directions, the office bearers will be barred from functioning. Then we will consider appointing someone as ad-hoc (body)…that election will be cancelled.” The court ordered, ”In the meantime, the election of respondent number two will be subject to the result of the writ petition. The result of the election will not be published.” The next hearing of the case will be on October 14.
