FILE PHOTO: The court has directed the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to place proposed constitutional amendments before its General Body for clause-by-clause voting ahead of fresh elections. | Photo Credit: KSL

The Delhi High Court has reaffirmed the primacy of the All India Tennis Association’s (AITA) General Body in deciding amendments to its constitution, directing that all proposed changes be placed before members for clause-by-clause deliberation and voting.

A Division Bench of Justices Tejas Karia and Madhu Jain passed the interim order while hearing cross appeals by the AITA and former Davis Cup player Somdev Devvarman against an April 27 judgment of a single judge.

The court directed that after court-appointed administrator, former Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, finalises the draft amendments to the AITA constitution and bye-laws, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) must be convened by July 31. The General Body will deliberate and vote on each amendment, with reasons for acceptance, rejection or modification recorded in the minutes.

The order modifies parts of the single judge’s ruling while retaining the process of constitutional reforms and fresh elections.

AITA had challenged Mittal’s appointment and the extensive powers vested in her over constitutional amendments, elections and administration, arguing there was no illegality in its elections or institutional breakdown warranting a parallel administrative structure.

“The court order protects the autonomy of AITA as a democratic association,” AITA counsel Parth Goswami told PTI, adding that the ruling preserves the General Body’s authority while ensuring compliance with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

Devvarman and Purav Raja, meanwhile, challenged the recognition of the Executive Committee elected in September 2024, seeking continuation of the administrator’s control until fresh elections after constitutional reforms.

Without ruling on the merits, the Bench recorded both sides’ willingness to amend the constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026.

The interim Executive Committee has been directed to submit suggestions on the draft amendments by June 25. Mittal will finalise a consolidated draft by July 15 after hearing the committee. Fresh elections under the amended constitution must be completed by September 30.

The court also clarified that all affiliated state tennis associations, irrespective of compliance with the new governance regime, can vote at the EGM and subsequent elections. Any decision on the amendments, however, will remain subject to the final outcome of the appeals.

The dispute stems from a writ petition by Devvarman and Raja challenging the September 28, 2024 AITA elections over alleged violations of the National Sports Development Code and earlier court directions.

Published on Jun 23, 2026