The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) regarding the legality of Anilkumar Prabhakaran’s appointment as the federation’s secretary general. The petition, filed by Delhi Football Club director Ranjit Bajaj, alleges that Prabhakaran’s appointment violated the National Sports Code.
Justice Sachin Datta issued notices to the Union Sports Ministry, AIFF, and Prabhakaran, giving them two weeks to respond. The controversy centers on the claim that Prabhakaran, previously an elected member of the AIFF Executive Committee, should not have been appointed to an administrative position as a nominated individual, according to the rules set by the Sports Ministry.
During the session, the petitioner’s counsel argued for Prabhakaran’s immediate removal, citing a specific prohibition against re-appointing elected executive members to administrative posts. The court declined to grant interim relief but promised a swift hearing, noting concerns that the appointment might undermine the intended “cooling-off period” between roles.
The petitioner highlighted inconsistencies in how sports governance rules are applied, referencing a similar situation handled differently in the Table Tennis Federation of India. They stressed the urgency of addressing what they termed an “illegal appointment” and also pointed out a potential conflict of interest due to Prabhakaran’s affiliation with Scoreline Sports.
The legal challenge emphasizes the broader implications of governance in sports bodies, asserting that Prabhakaran’s role as secretary general contravenes the stipulations of the National Sports Code and a specific directive from the Sports Ministry dated February 28, 2022.
