Rowing Federation election results announced after Delhi HC cites democratic values

The Rowing Federation of India (RFI) on Friday got a new set of Office-Bearers and Executive Committee, led by former rower Balaji Maradapa, after the High Court of Delhi allowed the votes, polled 16 months ago, to be counted and results declared. The order sparked a wave of belief in the sports administration fraternity more such rulings could be in the pipline

A July 2 order of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela of the High Court of Delhi paved the way for the elections results to be announced on Friday. They modified the direction in the order of February 23, 2024, and directed that the results of the elections held on February 25, 2024, be declared.

The then Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora had ordered that elections could be held but the votes could not be counted, and the results should not be announced till further orders. They also permitted the existing RFI management to continue in office since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was round the corner.

Importantly, Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held that the continuation in office of the erstwhile Executive Committee after the expiry of its term is not conducive to RFI or democratic values. 

“It is the interest of administration of any institution, that too in a democratic setup like ours, to ensure that a duly elected body is in place to manage and administer the affairs of the institution,” the Order of the Division Bench read, while recording that the Delhi Rowing Association has raised relevant grievances about non-compliance of the Sports Code.

The interest of the Dehi Rowing Association was addressed by ordering that the results of the election would be subject to the outcome of the petition. However, the Bench held the view that the Delhi unit was ineligible to participate in the elections on February 25, 2024. They also took into account that more than a year and half had passed since the elections.

The election results, announced on Friday, revealed the election of Balaji Maradapa as RFI President against Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh (retd.) by securing 36 votes to 14. Similarly, Subhasish Mukherjee defeated Lt. Col. Rajpal Singh (retd.) 35-15 to be elected Secretary-General while Chiranjit Phukan beat Rajiv Sharma 37-11 in the race to the Treasurer’s post.

Interestingly, of members the All India Tennis Association are hoping that the High Court of Delhi will pass a similar order, allowing the results of the elections held on September 28, 2024, to be declared. The battle between sections of the Executive Committee has taken many twists and turns and only the Court can haul the AITA governance back on rails.

The Indian Golf Union elections await adjudication in the High Court while the story of Equestrian Federation of India long-pending elections is a different matter altogether. As is the cloud of mystery shrouding the Boxing Federation of India elections. A consistent approach by all concerned would help India’s sport governance step out of the morass it finds itself in.

As things stand, the sports fraternity is awaiting the judgement of the Supreme Court bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Joymala Bagchi in the All India Football Federation matter. In fact, it finds mention in Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela’s order as well.