Delhi High Court removes Narinder Batra as IOA president

Tribune News Service

Vinayak Padmadeo

New Delhi, June 24

In a big blow to Narinder Batra, the Delhi High Court today barred him from officiating as the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The court also made Anil Khanna the acting president of the sports body.

The court’s vacation bench gave this order while hearing a contempt proceeding filed on behalf of former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan against Batra, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta and the sports secretary.

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

The previous order had appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run Hockey India. It had also sought a probe by CoA to see whether Batra used his life member as a stepping stone to get benefits nationally or internationally. “…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.

Vanshdeep Dalmia, who is representing Khan, said: “We filed the urgent petition on Tuesday against Batra, Mehta and the Sports Ministry officials. The order today has removed Batra as the IOA president and he cannot act in that capacity. The order has made Anil Khanna, who is the senior-most vice-president of the body, as the acting president. A letter in this regard has already been sent to the International Olympic Committee by secretary general Mehta.”

The court posted the matter for further hearing on August 3.

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