Pinnacle court said ‘Nation’s image first’ on AICF dispute prior to Chess Olympiad

The Supreme Court allowed Bharat Singh Chauhan to continue as All India Chess Federation secretary till mid-August since nation is holding a prestigious Chess Olympiad from July 27 to August 10

“For us the image of the state is first,” the bench of justices MR Shah and Aniruddha Bose said, pausing the bitter legal dispute over the federation elections that reached the Supreme Court. On June 2, the Delhi state supreme court told Chauhan to not continue because the federation secretary on a petition by his rival candidate Ravindra Dongre.

The top court said Bharat Singh Chauhan can continue till holy day of obligation as an interim arrangement seeable of the 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad which was quarantined of Russia’s capital Moscow seeable of the Ukraine invasion. The federation’s bid to carry the celebrated 15-day event in Chennai was accepted by the International Chess Federation. the opposite events that were moved aloof from Russia are the primary chess Olympiad for people with disabilities and therefore the 93rd FIDE Congress.

Ravindra Dongre had challenged the election on the bottom that Chauhan failed to enjoy two-third majority of the 64 votes polled during his election in January 2021.

“As it's reported that the state is holding a prestigious Chess Olympiad from July 27 to August 10 and also the same be not affected in any manner, we direct appellant (Chauhan) to continue as Secretary of AICF till August 15 by way of an interim arrangement only,” the highest court ruled.

The bench noted that the event was to be opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Wednesday’s order could be a huge relief to Chauhan who is that the Olympiad’s tournament director.

Senior lawyer Maninder Singh, appearing for Chauhan, told the court that it absolutely was unfair that a duly elected secretary was removed without being heard. Singh said Chauhan’s election conducted under the supervision of a former tribunal judge, Justice K Kannan (retd) was approved by the Centre in January last year. Singh added that one judge of the Delhi supreme court refused to remain the election on May 17 but the division bench passed the stay order.

The petition was opposed by Dongre - the petitioner before the judicature. Advocate Manish Kaushik who appeared for Dongre said, “This man (Chauhan) has hijacked the institution and is under cloud over illegal tenders issued during his tenure of over past one year. an occasion like Olympiad without this man who encompasses a dubious record are organised better.”

The bench disagreed with this view. It underlined that the judicature made no remarks on his past record and therefore the only ground on which the election was stayed was on the two-third doctrine. “You could also be right that one person doesn't run the institution. Still, when a world event is being organised, as an elected person, his participation is required.”

Chauhan’s petition within the Supreme Court said this was the primary time India will host the Chess Olympiad in Chennai which it'll have participation from 339 teams (1,695 players) from 188 countries. Singh told the court that a suit challenging the AICF election was pending before the Madras state supreme court which the Delhi court still went ahead to entertain Dongre’s petition.

“The series of petitions against AICF and petitioner herein are nothing but a well-planned attempt of respondent (Dongre) to thwart and disrupt the AICF from conducting the Olympiad,” the petition said. It further stated that Dongre had within the past complained to the Centre against Chauhan’s election. When the identical was noted AICF by a communication issued in October 2021, AICF informed the Centre that Dongre was ineligible to contest for the secretary post as he was neither a member of any state/UT Chess association nor an functionary of any of the member state/UT chess associations.

During the AICF elections held in January last year, Chauhan secured 35 votes out of the entire 64 votes polled. His rival Dongre contended that Chauhan required two-third votes, (44 votes) as per the National Sports Code.