By Priya Gour
Published on: 12th August, 2022 at 17:59 IST
The Supreme Court bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud permitted a request by the Sports Ministry for an opportunity to resolve the issues in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) by meeting with its Committee of Administrators and FIFA.
The court asserted of its willingness of India to be able to host the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in October 2022. The court ensured that it would assert its authority to make the same.
About the case :
The bench was hearing a contempt petition made by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), complaining that AIFF’s former president, Praful Patel, and some States’ football associations making efforts to deny the apex court’s order of election conduction and finalise the AIFF.
The court was told that a meeting was held earlier with the FIFA officials and another meet was to take place with the ministry, and CoA.
Justice Chandrachud said: “You want to sort it out among yourselves, we have no difficulty because we want the World Cup to be held here… and should it come to it we will assert our authority without any exception,”
The Court had passed an interim order earlier in August for the AIFF to conclude elections to its executive committee as soon as possible. The court had agreed to a 27-day time election schedule which was presented before it by the CoA, which said that the election results would be declared on August 28/29, 2022.
The elections were to be conducted as per the provisions of Article 26 of the draft Constitution prepared by the CoA as per the court’s orders. The provisions fixed the limits and conditions of eligibility for candidates participating in them. The court upheld and agreed with the CoA’s proposal that 36 eminent players who represent prominent football players’ community should be included in the electoral college, having right to vote in the polls.
Thus the bench noted:
“All the counsel appearing for every contesting party without exception said it will be desirable if the matter is sorted out amicably.”
Thereby, the bench has listed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.