Amir Singh vs Union Of India And Others

$~21
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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% Date of Decision: 16 April, 2026
+ W.P.(C) 2136/2024, CM APPL. 8885/2024, CM APPL. 11223/2024,
CM APPL. 14653/2024, CM APPL. 21623/2024, CM APPL.
4093/2025, CM APPL. 9627/2025, CM APPL. 35632/2025, CM
APPL. 36600/2025, CM APPL. 61011/2025 & CM APPL.
65312/2025
AMIR SINGH .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Dayan Krishnan, Senior
Advocate with Mr. Sukrit Seth,
Mr. Hemant Phalpher and Mr.
Karishmit Keswani, Advocates
versus
UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Kamal Mehta, Advocate for R-1
and R-2
Mr. Jayant Kumar, Advocate for R-2
Ms. Kumudavalli Seetharaman, Mr.
Ujjwal Chaudhary and Ms. Geetika
Vyas, Advocates for IOA
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT BANSAL
AMIT BANSAL, J. (ORAL)
CM APPL. 61011/2025 (seeking directions)
1. This application has been filed on behalf of the petitioner, inter alia ,
seeking various reliefs, however, the petitioner, for the present, presses only
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the following relief:
“A. Direct the Indian Olympic Association to hold the elections to the
Athletes Commission of the VFI under the FIVB approved athletes
commission regulations as communicated to the IOA; and/or”
2. The applicant/petitioner is a former sports person having played the
sport of volleyball at the national level. The applicant is also a recipient of
the prestigious Arjuna Award.
3. Pursuant to elections to the Volleyball Federation of India (hereinafter
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‘VFI’) ordered by this Court vide order dated 9 May, 2025, elections were
held to the interim body of VFI.
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4. The present application came up before this Court on 13 February,
2026, wherein the statement of Mr. Jayant Kumar, counsel appearing on
behalf of the respondent no.2/VFI was recorded that Athletes’ Commission
has been duly constituted and affidavit in this regard would be filed.
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5. An affidavit dated 17 February, 2026 has been filed on behalf of the
respondent no.2/VFI wherein it is stated that Athletes’ Commission has been
constituted as per existing statute of FIVB. It is further stated in the affidavit
that four members to the Athletes’ Commission were nominated by the
Executive Committee of VFI, in addition to four elected members.
Accordingly, eight members are a part of the Athletes’ Commission. Out of
the aforesaid eight members, four were elected to participate in the
Executive Committee of VFI.
6. The main grievance of the applicant is with regard to formation of
Athletes’ Commission, which as per the applicant, has not been done by VFI
as per the FIVB Regulations as communicated to Indian Olympic
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Association (hereinafter ‘IOA’) in the e-mail communication dated 5 July,
2025.
7. It is submitted that the rules and regulations for constitution of
Athletes’ Commission were sent by Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
(hereinafter ‘FIVB’) to IOA, which have been ignored by the interim body
of VFI and instead VFI has made its own rules bypassing the rules and
regulations of FIVB and IOA.
8. It has been submitted on behalf of Mr. Jayant Kumar, counsel for VFI
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that the communication dated 5 July, 2025, on which reliance has been
placed by the petitioner, was not addressed to VFI but was addressed to
IOA.
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9. Taking note of the aforesaid submissions, the case was heard on 10
March, 2026 and counsel were informally asked to obtain clarifications from
FIVB though the same was not recorded in the order.
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10. At the hearing on 23 March, 2026, counsel appearing on behalf of
the petitioner had shown to the Court certain communications sent by FIVB
to IOA as well as to VFI and was directed to place the same on record.
11. On the said date of hearing, Mr. Jayant Kumar, counsel appearing on
behalf of VFI had also sought time to put these communications before
Executive Committee of VFI to obtain instructions. Pursuant to the aforesaid
directions, the communications have been placed on record by way of
additional documents.
12. I have heard the counsel for the parties.
13. There are significant differences between the regulations adopted by
VFI and the regulations proposed by FIVB for the constitution of the
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Athletes’ Commission. Some of the significant differences are noted below:

14. The Athletes’ Commission bye-laws adopted by VFI restricted the
eligibility criteria to such athletes who have participated in competitions in
the preceding 8 years. The said bye-laws also provided that the athletes must
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be nominated by a State Volleyball Association or UT units. These
conditions are not a part of the FIVB Athletes’ Commission Regulations.
15. Further, in contrast to the aforesaid VFI bye-laws, FIVB Regulations
suggested a tier-wise selection criteria for the composition of the Athletes’
Commission. The relevant provision of the Athletes’ Commission
Regulations, 2025 as approved by FIVB ( Annexure-E to the present
application ) is set out below:
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16. In terms of the communication dated 20 March, 2026 sent by FIVB
to VFI, FIVB has granted provisional recognition to VFI for a period of
eight (8) months subject to fulfilment of certain conditions, one of the
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conditions was with regard to setting up of Athletes’ Commission in line
with Indian Law, the FIVB requirements and the joint FIVB-IOA
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communication dated 5 July, 2025.
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17. The relevant extracts from the aforesaid communication dated 20
March, 2026 are set out below:
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18. In the communication dated 20 March, 2026 sent by FIVB to IOA,
FIVB confirmed the establishment of a Steering Committee to ensure
institutional coordination between the FIVB, IOA, and the VFI interim
leadership. On the same date, another communication was sent by IOA to
VFI calling upon them to adhere to the conditions as communicated by
FIVB including the condition relating to establishment of an Athletes’
Commission in compliance with applicable regulations, jointly provided by
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FIVB and IOA, vide email dated 5 July, 2025.
19. In the undated response sent by VFI to FIVB, VFI has stated that it
has already constituted an Athletes’ Commission as per decision of this
Court and in accordance with FIVB Regulations. The relevant extracts are
set out below:
“13.2 Constitution of Athletes' Commission:-
13.2.1 VFI has already constituted Athletes' Commission as per the
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decision of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court and in accordance with the
applicable FIVB regulations. Furthermore, the said matter is currently
sub-judice before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court and the VFI will act in
accordance with the judgement/directions of the Court.”
20. In light of the subsequent communications placed on record, there is
no ambiguity at all with regard to the stand of FIVB that the Athletes’
Commission has to be established in terms of what was communicated by
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FIVB vide communication dated 5 July, 2025.
21. It cannot be disputed that FIVB is the international regulatory body
for the sport of volleyball and the VFI as the National Sports Federation is
required to follow the regulations of FIVB so as to ensure that Indian
athletes continue to participate in all international sporting events relating to
volleyball including Asian Games and Olympics. Even in terms of the
Section 15 of the newly enacted National Sports Governance Act, 2025,
National Sports Organisations are required to follow the rules, regulations
and bye-laws of international sports bodies.
22. From the submissions advanced by Mr. Jayant Kumar, counsel for the
respondent no.2/VFI, this Court cannot discern any plausible justification for
VFI not following the regulations of FIVB. The said regulations have also
been approved by IOA which is the apex governing body for Olympic sports
in India.
23. Accordingly, this Court is of the view that VFI has to adopt the rules
and regulations which have been forwarded by FIVB for setting up of the
Athletes’ Commission.
24. In light of the above, a direction is issued to VFI must adopt the
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aforesaid regulations and constitute the Athletes’ Commission in accordance
therewith. The election to the Athletes’ Commission shall be held within a
period of six (6) weeks.
25. In order to ensure fairness of the elections, it is directed that the Union
of India as well as IOA shall appoint an observer.
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26. List for consideration of remaining reliefs on 20 July, 2026.
AMIT BANSAL, J
APRIL 16, 2026
ds
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Signed By:AARZOO
Signing Date:21.04.2026
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