IOC threatens to suspend IOA for internal squabbling

It was a deja vu for the SC as the Solicitor general Tushar Mehta had on August 18 had informed the SC that "As a nation, we are worried with the development of the Delhi HC appointing a Committee of Administrators. The international bodies consider any management other than the elected body as a third party or outsider and suspend the national sports body".

On August 18, the SC had stalled take over of the IOA by the CoA comprising ex-SC judge Anil R Dave, former chief election commission S Y Quraishi and former external affairs secretary Vikas Swarup, as directed by the HC on August 16. The bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hima Kohli, given the recent unpleasant experience of having to modify its orders to get the All India Football Federation afloat in the wake of its suspension by FIFA, asked the Union sports secretary to coordinate with IOC for finding a “neutral person” to become secretary general of IOA till an elected body took over the reins.

Accepting Mehta’s suggestion, the bench said it would nominate a retired SC judge for preparation of the electoral college and conducting of free and fair elections to IOA. On August 18, Mehta had cautioned against CoA taking the reins of IOA and said, ”There is a 99% chance of IOA getting suspended by the IOC which would prevent Indian athletes from participating in any international sporting event, including Olympics.