Facts
The petitioners challenged the September 2024 elections of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), alleging violations of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 and existing judicial precedents
Source reference: p. 2-3On 24th September 2024, the Court ordered that election results remain in a sealed cover
Source reference: p. 3While the petition was pending, the Central Government notified the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (effective 31st December 2025) and the Sports Governance Rules, 2026, which introduced new mandates for age limits, tenures, and Executive Committee (EC) composition
Source reference: pp. 3-4During this period, the AITA was also paralyzed by factionalism, with three different groups claiming to represent the body, leading to administrative deadlock and "ego tussles" over international events
Source reference: pp. 14-15Issues
1. Whether the 2024 AITA elections and current governance structures must be evaluated under the repealed 2011 Sports Code or the newly enacted National Sports Governance Act, 2025
Source reference: p. 10 / para. 212. Whether an interim management body and an independent Administrator should be appointed to reconcile factional disputes and ensure statutory compliance
Source reference: p. 18 / para. 41Law Applied
National Sports Governance Act, 2025, specifically Section 4(2) regarding age (max 70 years) and tenure (up to three terms with cooling-off)
Source reference: pp. 4-6Section 4(1)(b) of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, limiting EC size to 15 members
Source reference: p. 6Section 15(b) of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, mandating amendment of Bye-Laws
Source reference: p. 8Rule 18 of the Sports Governance Rules, 2026, requiring compliance within six months
Source reference: p. 8Dr. Arun Damodar Sawant v. Chancellor, Univ. of Maharashtra (2024) to hold that legal issues under old regimes become academic upon new enactments
Source reference: p. 10All India Football Federation v. Rahul Mehra (2022) to establish that an expired committee cannot continue indefinitely under the cloak of a court stay
Source reference: p. 12Reasoning
The Court reasoned that with the notification of the Sports Act, 2025, the previous challenge under the 2011 Code became academic
Source reference: p. 10AITA’s existing EC had completed its four-year term (2020-2024), and its continued functioning solely due to a judicial stay was deemed contrary to "proper governance"
Source reference: p. 12-13The Court observed that AITA is currently a "divided house" with three factions filing conflicting applications, which jeopardizes athlete interests and national image
Source reference: p. 15-16Consequently, the Court determined that the 2024 election results (previously sealed) should be declared only as a stopgap measure to manage day-to-day affairs, but an independent Administrator is necessary to oversee the mandatory transition to the new legal regime
Source reference: p. 17-18Holding
The Court disposed of the petition by holding that all National Sports Federations must align with the 2025 Act
(i) the release of the 2024 election results to form an interim EC; (ii) the appointment of Justice (Retd.) Ms. Gita Mittal as Administrator to manage AITA’s affairs and oversee bank accounts; (iii) the Administrator shall amend AITA's Constitution/Bye-Laws by June 30, 2026, to comply with the 2025 Act; and (iv) fresh elections must be conducted within three months of such amendments. The contempt petition was dismissed as infructuous
Source reference: pp. 18-20Original Court PDF
Somdev Kishore Devvarman & Anr.vsUnion Of India & Anr.
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