Delhi HC upholds order dissolving IOA ad hoc committee for Ski and Snowboard India

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld an order quashing the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)'s decision to appoint an ad hoc committee to take over the affairs of Ski and Snowboard India.
     A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, while dealing with the IOA's appeal challenging the single-judge bench's decision, however, set aside a direction to the association to pay the fee to the returning officer appointed for conducting elections in the body.
     The bench stated that Ski and Snowboard India must make that payment as saddling the responsibility of bearing the expenses of conducting the elections of an independent body on the IOA cannot be justified.
     On February 10, the single judge allowed Ski and Snowboard India's petition assailing an October 13, 2023, order by the IOA president on the formation of the ad hoc committee.
     The single judge ruled that Ski and Snowboard India was an independent body and that the IOA did not have the power to replace its executive committee by appointing an ad hoc committee to manage its affairs.
     In the judgement, the division bench said it was in "complete agreement" with the single judge.
     It noted that admittedly, Ski and Snowboard India was not a recognised national sports federation under the provisions of the Sports Code or the National Sports Governance Act.
     As a society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, its affairs have to be governed only by its memorandum of association, its by-laws and the applicable rules and regulations, the court further said.
     "Accordingly, while upholding the judgment and order under appeal herein passed by the learned Single Judge to the extent it has quashed the Office Order dated 13.10.2023 and has observed that the ad hoc committee stood dissolved with immediate effect and further directed for conducting the elections of the respondent No.1, we set aside the direction issued to the appellant for payment of the fee to the returning officer. The fee to the returning officer shall be paid by the respondent No.1," the court concluded.
     "The impugned judgment and order dated 10.02.2026, thus, stands modified to the aforesaid extent, and the appeal stands disposed of accordingly," it said.
     Advocate Neha Singh appeared for Ski and Snowboard India.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)