Delhi High Court says Praful Patel’s election as AIFF boss invalid, appoints administrator

Delhi High Court set aside a December 20, 2016 election for the All India Football Federation, where Praful Patel was re-elected unopposed for the third term as president of the national football governing body

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside the election of the office-bearers of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) held in December and nominated former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi as the administrator.

In December 2016, Praful Patel was re-elected unopposed for the third term as president of the All India Football Federation. (PTI)

The court further observed that fresh elections should be held within five months as AIFF had violated the Sports Code.

Acting on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) field by noted lawyer Rahul Mehra, the court set aside the December 20, 2016 election for the AIFF, where Praful Patel was re-elected unopposed for the third term as president of the Indian national football governing body.

AIFF president Praful Patel, general secretary Kushal Das and senior vice-president Subrata Dutta did not take calls from Hindustan Times seeking a reaction to this.

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Patel first became acting president of the AIFF for a one-year term after former president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi suffered a cardiac arrest in 2008. However in October 2009, he became full-time president and was re-elected in December 2012.

Last year, he was again elected unanimously for the third term. Kushal Das was nominated general secretary. Then, Das had said that the elections were held as per the spirit of the Sports Code and the guidelines related to age and tenure had been complied with.