Archive · 9 Sep 2026
Bajaj Seeks Court Order For Early AIFF Elections
Ranjit Bajaj has asked a court to make India’s football federation hold its elections soon.
He wants the federation to announce an election schedule.
He also wants the whole process finished within a deadline set by the court.
Bajaj says the federation has already updated its rules to follow a new sports law.
The federation had delayed the elections while moving to that new system.
Bajaj says state football groups should not have to finish their own changes before national elections happen.
He wants the newly elected leaders to handle those changes.
He also asks that current federation leaders avoid making major long-term decisions until the elections are over.
Football administrator Ranjit Bajaj has petitioned the court for directions to hold All India Football Federation elections promptly.
He wants the AIFF to notify the election schedule and complete the process, including declaring results, within a court-set deadline.
Bajaj seeks an interim restraint on the current Executive Committee taking long-term, financial or irreversible decisions.
The petition argues that the AIFF has already adopted a Constitution compliant with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Bajaj cites a July 17, 2026 order in the All India Tennis Association case to argue that state-association compliance should not delay national elections.
- Who
- Football administrator and entrepreneur Ranjit Bajaj, against the All India Football Federation.
- What
- Bajaj has filed a petition seeking early AIFF elections, a court-set deadline for completing them, and limits on the current Executive Committee’s decision-making.
- When
- The petition was filed as the AIFF transitions to the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 framework; it cites a July 17, 2026 order in the All India Tennis Association case.
- Where
- The petition was filed in New Delhi.
- Why
- Bajaj argues that the AIFF has already aligned its Constitution with the new law and that state-association compliance should not delay national elections.
Bajaj’s Position
AIFF’s Stated Rationale
Timing of elections
Bajaj’s Position
Bajaj says the AIFF has completed its constitutional alignment with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, so there is no justification for further postponement.
AIFF’s Stated Rationale
The AIFF has deferred its elections while transitioning to the new electoral framework under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
State-association compliance
Bajaj’s Position
Bajaj argues that compliance by state associations should not be a precondition for national elections and should instead be addressed by the newly elected Executive Committee.
AIFF’s Stated Rationale
The petition identifies the AIFF’s transition to the new framework and related alignment process as the backdrop to the deferred elections.
Current Executive Committee powers
Bajaj’s Position
Bajaj seeks an interim restraint on the current committee taking policy decisions or actions with long-term, financial or otherwise irreversible consequences until elections conclude.
AIFF’s Stated Rationale
The articles do not state the AIFF’s position on this requested restraint.
- Petitioner
- Ranjit Bajaj
- Organization
- All India Football Federation
- Requested action
- Immediate notification and completion of Executive Committee elections
- Requested deadline
- A timeframe fixed by the court, including declaration of results
- Interim request
- Restrict the current Executive Committee from making major long-term, financial or irreversible decisions
- Legal basis cited
- AIFF Constitution and National Sports Governance Act, 2025
- Precedent cited
- July 17, 2026 order in the All India Tennis Association case