New Delhi: Delhi High Court declined to pass any observations or directions on All India Football Federation’s powers to change its judicial bodies at its upcoming annual general meeting on December 20 to conclude a long-draw dispute over Anwar Ali’s transfer from Mohun Bagan to East Bengal.
Following resignation of an appeal committee member, AIFF had pointed to an absence of quorum from conducting hearings of the matter that has witnessed at least 11 adjournments for various reasons and dragged on for over 16 months.
Petitioner Ali had pointed to presence of four other members in the committee for hearings to continue, even as AIFF planned formation of a new panel at its annual general meeting on December 20.
At a hearing on Tuesday, Justice Sachin Datta refused to pass any interim injunction on the case, which is currently subjudice at Jutice Rajesh Tandon-chaired committee.
“I neither want to sanction any judgement nor interdict. Let’s not challenge the proceedings of Justice Tandon,” Datta observed, before setting the next date of hearing on January 19, 2026.
Appeal committee hearings were fixed on November 12 and 13 but had to be postponed due to the resignation, with AIFF putting it off “until further notice”.
Justice Tandon had set the next hearing dates on Nov 28 and 29, expecting AIFF to comply with the directive of immediately completing the quorum strictly but was informed that it won’t be conducted “owing to the incomplete quorum requirement as per Article 79” of its disciplinary committee.
Tandon has set fresh dates on December 17 and 18 though it isn’t immediately clear if hearings would be conducted then.
‘Manufactured stalemate’
Ali moved to the Delhi HC, where a disciplinary committee judgement finding him guilty of unilateral termination of contract was set aside, on suspicion of a “manufactured stalemate”.
The India international alleged AIFF of depicting the appeal committee as “dysfunctional” in order for its eventual dissolution, paving the way for its reconstitution.
He suspected AIFF to “cherry-pick” members who would keep in mind “interests of the Federation and its current leadership”, pointing to “gross abuse of power”.
But Justice Datta noted that due procedure under the aegis of the Supreme Court-mandated constitution, which AIFF recently adopted, has to be followed.
On Nov 14, Bagan sought FIFA’s intervention once hearings were indefinitely adjourned while also seeking liberty to approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a transparent and speedy resolution.
FIFA confirmed intention to communicate with AIFF “with regards to the relevant proceedings, as necessary” on Nov 23.
Comments are closed.