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AITA Announces Fresh Elections After Court-Directed Governance Overhaul
The All India Tennis Association, which manages tennis in India, will hold new elections on November 27.
The elections are happening after a long disagreement about how the organization should be run.
A court had kept the results of an earlier 2024 election sealed.
Later, the court allowed the elected group to manage daily work temporarily.
The court also appointed Justice Gita Mittal to help update AITA’s rules.
The rules had to match a new national sports governance law.
AITA changed its Constitution in July.
Now, election officials will prepare candidate lists before members vote.
The association also created committees to handle disputes and issues involving its trust.
The All India Tennis Association will hold fresh elections on November 27.
Rajeev Sharma was appointed election commissioner under the National Sports Election Panel.
The election process begins with publication of the final electoral colleges on November 7.
AITA formed a task force to bring its trust under the association’s umbrella.
The election follows litigation and constitutional changes prompted by new sports governance rules.
- Who
- The All India Tennis Association, its interim leadership, election commissioner Rajeev Sharma, former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja, and Delhi High Court-appointed Administrator Justice Gita Mittal.
- What
- AITA announced fresh elections for its Executive Committee and Athletes Committee and set up related oversight bodies.
- Where
- The announcement followed an AITA general body meeting in Ahmedabad, while the related litigation was before the Delhi High Court.
- When
- The election is scheduled for November 27; the process begins on November 7, with nominations filed from November 14 to 16.
- Why
- The fresh election is intended to follow court directions and bring AITA’s Constitution and bye-laws into line with the new sports governance framework.
AITA and Interim Leadership
Former Players
Recognition of the 2024 election body
AITA and Interim Leadership
AITA accepted the elected Executive Committee as an interim body for day-to-day administration while fresh elections were arranged.
Former Players
Former players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja challenged recognition of the 2024 elected body as an interim committee.
Administrator’s role
AITA and Interim Leadership
AITA challenged the appointment and powers of the court-appointed Administrator.
Former Players
The court-appointed arrangement gave the Administrator responsibility for daily operations, constitutional changes, electoral preparations and fresh elections.
2024 election results
AITA and Interim Leadership
The existing Executive Committee continued running AITA after the results were kept in a sealed cover.
Former Players
The challenge to the electoral process led to the results remaining undisclosed until the court directed that they be opened.
Key facts
- Election date
- November 27
- Election commissioner
- Rajeev Sharma, former State Election Commissioner of Haryana
- Electoral college publication
- November 7
- Nomination filing
- November 14 to 16
- Final candidate list
- November 25
- Voting-rights appointments
- Para players Mariappan Dorai and KP Shilpa were added to AITA’s General Body with voting rights.
- Trust task force
- Chintan Parikh, Hironmoy Chatterjee, Prem Karra and Asit Tripathy were appointed to the task force.
Quotes
Chintan Parikh
Interim President of the All India Tennis Association
“The administrator’s mandate was up to September 30, unless extended. So, technically today is the last day of her tenure. The court has not directed for any extension. We held our AGM in Ahmedabad today and appointed the election commissioner.”
theprint.in
“Today the EC also appointed a task force to look into AITA Trust issues. EC is very clear that AITA trust is not independent, and it has to come into AITA umbrella. It was cleared unanimously.”
theprint.in
Sources
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