The recalcitrant All India Tennis Association is still not in a mood to give up and go for wholesome changes as promised. At least, that is the impression one got from the court room exchanges in the Delhi High Court on Monday, after notices had been issued to the AITA as well as the Sports Ministry last month over the sports code. It is well-known, some of the former players like Somdev Devvarman, Mahesh Bhupathi and Imran Mirza, father of Sania Mirza had slammed the AITA last month. Somdev and Purav Raja had also dragged the AITA to court.
Around the same time in September, the Delhi High Court had issued notices to the AITA and the Sports Ministry. On October 14, the AITA went back to the Delhi High Court and instead of coming up with a proper reply and saying they will fall in line with the Sports Code and make the necessary changes, their plea was election results be declared. Well placed sources told RevSportz the AITA, which had authorised outgoing secretary Amil Dhupar to reply on behalf of the association made a plea that the results of the elections be declared and they would “clean up in three months.”
The whole election last month (September 28) was a sham with the posts of president and secretary in the AITA going unopposed. Despite the court telling the AITA to hold the elections and submit the results in a sealed envelope, what transpired in the Delhi High Court was strange. The lawyers appearing for the AITA made a plea that the “results be declared” and the new body would in three months implement the necessary changes in the constitution. In essence, they wanted the new ‘elected committee’ to take charge and implement the sports code. Even more strange, the lawyers on behalf of the AITA argued that as the new proposed sports bill was going to be taken up by the Parliament in the winter session after getting comments from the public at large, they be given permission to declare results and allowed to work. The court did not agree to this and has asked the AITA to file a proper reply. Changes to the AITA constitution have to be made and they will now have to file a proper reply before the next hearing on November 25.
It is well-known, the AITA thought they could take the easy way out and cling on to power, with a new body coming to power. It has not been allowed. Some of the players who spoke to RevSportz said they were not surprised by the “cunning” of AITA. The latest action from the AITA confirms what players like Somdev, Mahesh Bhupathi and Imran said, they are in no mood to change. Worse, the outgoing AITA secretary Anil Dhupar, at age 71, has authorised himself to represent the AITA in the court. He has already crossed the age limit of 70 and is on an extension.
The former players were also aghast how the AITA slammed Sumit Nagal for his refusal to play the Davis Cup tie las month in Sweden. Nagal has been battling a back injury and was on a break under medical advice. His comebacks have not been good after that. If that is one part of the story, the AITA has been rightly told by the Delhi High Court they can not try and get a new body in place. They will have to go back to the drawing board for a different reason and ensure the constitution is in sync with the existing sports code. It will be applicable to state units as well where officials have been clinging on to power for decades and done nothing for the sport.
As a former player said, the AITA thinks it is too smart but the court is not going to let them get away so easily this time. There are cases involving the Rowing Federation of India and even the Equestrian Federation of India where the sports code not being implemented has resulted in long drawn cases. As it stands, the AITA can also brace itself for a long haul.