Supreme Court May Direct AIFF Re-Election Soon

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Allegations of improper use of All India Football Federation (AIFF) funds were brought up against President Kalyan Chaubey to the Supreme Court recently by the Amici Curiae consisting of Samar Bansal and Gopal Sankaranarayanan. The court could decide on a re-election that could be held on April 5.

The Supreme Court had given AIFF a week to submit draft constitution objections. Then Amici Curiae will finalise and present the new objections to the court. If the court approves the draft constitution, then the court will give a final decision and a new date for the re-election.

Along with bringing up multiple malpractice and corruption allegations against Kalyan Chaubey, they argued that the court had given AIFF the permission to hold elections back in 2022 as an 'interim measure'.

This would be for a “period of three months subject to further orders of this Court till the Constitution is finalised.” AIFF have put forward their argument that their understanding was that the current panel led by President Chaubey was put in power for a 4-year period.

An AIFF official told News9, “Never was the previous constitution termed as an interim panel. If fresh elections are called, it could amount to interference in the eyes of FIFA.”

They added, “Maybe in the argument next hearing it can be established that it is not an interim committee. We have to abide.”

To that, Talking to News9, the case’s respondent Rahul Mehra said, “One side wants elections, the other side doesn't. Now it's for the Court to decide.”

Amici Curiae highlighted that 'serious mismanagement’ were taking place in AIFF under the current panel. They also mentioned how the former AIFF legal head Nilanjan Bhattacharjee and secretary Shaji Prabhabkaran were let go. Mehra said, “The elections may happen after finalisation of the constitution. Hopefully elections will be held.”