Delhi High Court Appoints Retired Justice Najmi Waziri As Chairman For Extraordinary General Meeting Of Equestrian Federation Of India

The Delhi High Court has appointed its retired judge, Justice Najmi Waziri, as the Chairman for the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) to be held today.

The agenda for the meeting is for amendments in the ECI calendar, participation and funding for the 19th Asian Games being held from September 23, hiring of a PR agency, digitalisation of old records and status of cases pending before the court.

In an order passed on September 15, Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju said that except the aforementioned agendas, no other items may be taken up for consideration at the meeting.

“Since the 19th Asian Games are scheduled to be held a week from the meeting, i.e. 23.09.2023 to 08.10.2023 all matters relating to funding and participation are likely to have already been decided by the Respondent No.1/EFI. However, the two communication(s) dated 30.08.2023 as received from the Sports Authority of India with respect to the issue regarding allocation of funding may be circulated and discussed with the members of the General Assembly,” the court said.

It added that since there has been no PR agency since September 31 last year, an interim PR agency may be hired in accordance with the EFI Statute or the Sports Code, for the period of three months, to cover the 19th Asian Games.

“It is further directed that the minutes of EGM shall be drawn up and filed by Respondent No.1/EFI within 10 days of the EGM. All resolutions passed at the EGM shall remain subject to the outcome of the petition,” the court said.

Justice Ganju passed the order while hearing an application moved by Rajasthan Equestrian Association to restrain EFI and the Union Government from conducting the Extraordinary General Meeting during the pendency of its petition. The plea, which was moved in 2019, raised allegations against the EFI that it was conducting elections in contravention of the National Sports Development Code, 2011 and has extended voting rights to clubs and institutions.

In April, a coordinate bench had issued a slew of directions for conducting elections to various posts of the office bearers to the EFI and appointed former high court judge Ajit Bharihoke as the returning officer to determine the electoral college.

The court had observed that the elections to the federation have to be held to ensure that a “democratically elected body” is in place and issued thus, directions as a “one time measure” considering that the 19th Asian Games are to be held between September 23 to October 08.

Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta, along with Advocates Advocate Ashish Kothari, Isha Tyagi and Devang Gautam appeared for the petitioner.

Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta, with Advocates Kirtiman Singh and Manmeet Kaur Sareen appeared for EFI. Advocates Ajay Digpaul, Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar and Vineet Dhanda appeared for Union of India.

Title: RAJASTHAN EQUESTRIAN ASSOCIATION v. EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION OF INDIA AND ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 840

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