Top Court orders established order, says Delhi HC-appointed CoA won't take over affairs of IOA

In an interim relief, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered established order and said the Delhi High Court-appointed three-member Committee of Administrators (COA) won't take over the affairs of the Indian Olympic Association.

A bench headed by judge N V Ramana took note of the submissions of peace officer Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and also the IOA, that the globe sports body doesn't recognise any un-elected bodies just like the CoA and consequently, India could also be barred from collaborating in international sports events.

The top court took note of the submissions of the shielder that the order may have negative repercussions on the state and granted the interim relief ordering establishment into the affairs of the IOA.

Consequently, the Delhi High Court-appointed COA, comprising former Supreme Court judge Justice Anil R Dave, former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, and former Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup, won't be able to take IOA over.

The Supreme Court has now posted appeal of IOA for further hearing on August 22.

Earlier within the day, the law officer sought urgent hearing and said the appointment of the CoA may cause the Association’s suspension by the International Olympic Committee because it happened within the case of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) recently.

The Delhi supreme court on August 16 had ordered the putting in place of a three-member CoA to manage the affairs of the IOA.

The judicature had said the “persistent recalcitrance” of the IOA to fits the Sports Code made it imperative that its affairs be put within the hands of the CoA.