The Supreme Court on Monday extended until further orders its status quo on the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that restrains the Delhi High Court-appointed three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) from taking over the sports body. A bench of Justice S.A. Nazeer and Justice J.K. Maheshwari sought responses from the Centre and other stakeholders on a plea filed by the IOA.
“Issue notice. Status quo to be continued until further orders, List after four weeks,” the bench said. The top court had earlier taken note of the submissions of solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, and senior advocate D.N. Goburdhun for the IOA that Indian sportspersons might lose the chance of participating in international tournaments due to IOC (International Olympic Committee) norms barring “third party interference” in national Olympic associations.
Delhi High Court had on August 16 ordered the setting up of the CoA to manage the affairs of the IOA. The impugned order came on a petition filed by advocate and sports enthusiast Rahul Mehra seeking a direction for redrafting of the IOA constitution in accordance with the National Sports Code, 2021.