[Election related dispute amongst office bearers] Delhi High Court appoints Justice Pankaj Naqvi as Administrator of Judo Federation of India

The Delhi High Court last week appointed Justice Pankaj Naqvi, a former Judge of the Allahabad High Court as the Administrator of Judo Federation of India.

A batch of writ petitions were filed before the High Court bringing forth a serious dispute in the Judo Federation of India amongst its office bearers.

As per the petitions, rival sets of parties had initiated steps for the purposes of elections leading to the filing of the present writ petitions.

Before the Court it was admitted that the term of the erstwhile Executive Body had come to an end and that the office bearers have consequently been rendered functus officio.

When the court had granted the prayer for early hearing bearing in mind the imperative necessity of emergent steps being taken keeping in mind the impending Commonwealth Games, the petitioners had suggested that an Administrator be appointed to take over the affairs of the Federation, conduct and look after its day-to-day affairs so that the interest of athletes was not impacted.

Accordingly, while appointing Justice Naqvi, a bench of Justice Yashwant Varma has ordered that the erstwhile Committee shall hand over charge to the Administrator.

"..erstwhile President, General Secretary and Treasurer to extend all cooperation to the Administrator in conducting the affairs of the Federation in the interim. The Administrator shall be authorized to make appropriate arrangements for the governance of the Federation until elections are held...", the single judge bench has further ordered.

Justice Naqvi has been directed to draw up a detailed plan for all preparatory steps that may be required to be undertaken for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and submit its first interim report within a period of six weeks.

The Administrator has also been directed to undertake steps to facilitate the holding of elections and ultimately handing over the affairs of the Federation to a democratically elected body.

Case Title: HARYANA STATE JUDO ASSOCIATION vs. JUDO FEDERATION OF INDIA & ORS.