New Delhi: No early elections are needed at the All India Football Federation to adopt its new constitution, which should be done within the next four weeks, the Supreme Court said on Friday.
A special bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi approved the draft constitution prepared by retired judge L Nageswara Rao with certain modifications.
It observed that since the current executive committee led by president Kalyan Chaubey has only one year left of its four-year term (till September 2026), there is no need to hold a fresh election.
A former goalkeeper, Chaubey became the first footballer to become the president when he defeated former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia 33-1 in AIFF elections on September 2, 2022.
Taking into account world governing body FIFA’s deadline of October 30 to ratify new constitution to avoid sanctions, the Court directed the AIFF to call a general body meeting within four weeks.
The other applications and contempt of court issue will be heard separately.
The AIFF is expected to call the meeting midway next month. “Now we have a clear pathway to take the game forward,” an AIFF official told News9 Sports.
Long legal battle
Filed in 2017, the constitution case dragged on for the last eight years until the Court reserved its verdict on finalisation of the constitution on April 30.
The Court appointed Justice Rao to prepare the constitution and heard from several senior lawyers, including petitioner Rahul Mehra and Amicus Curiae Gopal Sankaranarayanan, over objections and suggestions before reserving the judgement.
It also heard objections from state football associations and former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who represented voice of the players.
In the new constitution, the AIFF’s executive committee will have 14 members – one president, two vice presidents (a man and a woman), one treasurer and 10 other members.
Among the 10 other members, five would be eminent players, including two women.
It also has provisions for removal of office bearers, including the president, through a no-confidence motion, which was absent in the existing constitution.