HC refuses to stay order asking Narinder Batra to stop functioning as IOA chief

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice on an appeal by Batra challenging a single judge's June 24 order which was passed in a contempt petition filed by Olympian and Hockey World Cup winner Aslam Sher Khan. The bench, which asked Batra's counsel as to how the appeal was maintainable, issued notice to the Centre and Khan on the plea and listed it for further hearing on July 26. When advocate Shyel Trehan, appearing for Batra, sought a stay on the order passed by the single judge, the division bench said, "No we are not staying it.

Only on a technical issue we have issued a notice." The single judge, in its June 24 order, had said, "the respondent no. 1 / proposed contemnor (Batra) is restrained to further discharge any function as President, IOA. In view of the communication dated June 3, 2022, Anil Khanna, Senior Vice President will take over the duties and responsibilities of the President.

The Senior Vice President shall also perform any other tasks/ functions as directed by the President, the Executive Council, or the General Meeting". The contempt petition is listed for further hearing on August 3. On May 25, Batra was removed as IOA chief after the high court struck down the post of 'life member' in Hockey India, courtesy of which he had contested and won the apex body elections back in 2017.