Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Monday recused himself from hearing two critical petitions related to the finalisation of constitutions for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). These constitutions had been drafted under the supervision of former Supreme Court judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao.
CJI Khanna, sitting alongside Justice Sanjay Kumar, explained his decision at the outset of the hearing, citing his prior involvement in a related matter during his tenure at the Delhi High Court. “I remember hearing this in Delhi High Court,” he remarked, directing the cases to be reassigned to a bench led by Justice PS Narasimha for February 10.
The Supreme Court last addressed these matters on March 19, 2024, under the bench headed by the then CJI DY Chandrachud. During that session, the court allowed the AIFF to raise objections to the draft constitution prepared by Justice Rao and instructed the amicus curiae to incorporate the federation’s concerns into the relevant documents.
The bench, at the time, emphasized the importance of resolving outstanding issues concerning the governance frameworks of the IOA and AIFF. These cases are regarded as pivotal for driving reforms in the administration of Indian sports organizations.
The Supreme Court had previously assigned Justice L. Nageswara Rao to oversee reforms in sports governance in September 2022. His responsibilities included revising constitutions, preparing electoral rolls, and overseeing executive elections for bodies such as the IOA. This decision followed a Delhi High Court ruling that placed the IOA under a Committee of Administrators (CoA), as directed by the Supreme Court in the AIFF vs. Rahul Mehra case.
Similarly, the AIFF has been seeking judicial approval for its revised constitution, a process initiated under Justice Rao’s guidance in 2023. The objective of these reforms is to enhance transparency and efficiency in the governance of sports bodies across India.
These developments mark a crucial juncture in the effort to ensure accountability and good governance in Indian sports administration.