Delhi HC removes Narinder Batra as IOA president; Anil Khanna installed as acting chief of the body

Vinayak Padmadeo

New Delhi, June 24

In a big blow to Narinder Batra, the Delhi High Court on Friday removed him from officiating as the president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and made Anil Khanna the acting president of the sports body.

The court vacation bench of Justice Dinesh Sharma gave the order while hearing a contempt proceeding filed on behalf of former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan against Batra, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta and Sports Secretary.

The petition was filed as Batra was still attending meetings, including with the sports ministry, as the IOA president. It was deemed in contempt against a May 25 order of the Delhi High Court that had set aside the life membership of Batra and also the term of executive committee of Hockey India as it was deemed to be in violation of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 (NSDCI).

The order that had appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators, including Justice (retd) Anil R Dave, Dr SY Quraishi and Zafar Iqbal, had sought a further probe by the COA to see whether Batra used his life member as a stepping stone to benefits nationally or internationally and if yes has to be set aside immediately.

“…The illegal post of life president or life member cannot be the stepping stone for any other position or benefit elsewhere, be it nationally (including in the Indian Olympic Association) or in international bodies. If R-3 has so benefited, then such benefit or position shall end right away. Let the COA look into the matter, so would the Government of India,” the judgment said.

Speaking to the Tribune on Friday, Vanshdeep Dalmia, who is representing Aslam Sher Khan, said that the contempt petition was filed as Batra despite the previous High Court order was still acting in his capacity as the president.

“We filed the urgent petition on Tuesday against Mr Batra, Rajeev Mehta and the sports ministry officials for compliance of the May 25 order,” Dalmia said.

“The order today had removed Mr Batra as IOA president and he cannot act in that capacity. The order has made Mr Anil Khanna who is the senior most vice president of the body as the acting president as a letter in this regard has already been sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by secretary general Rajeev Mehta,” he added.

The matter is posted for August 3.