Delhi High Court Appoints Administrator To Run Table Tennis Federation Of India In Manika Batra's Plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday appointed an administrator to run the affairs of Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) thereby suspending the operation of it's Executive Committee after observing that prima facie, conduct of the federation was blameworthy.

Justice Rekha Palli hinted that the administrator appointed is likely to be a retired Chief Justice of a High Court. The Court said that it will also be appointing two or three persons along with the administrator, while adding that there names will be reflected later in the order.

The Court was dealing with a plea filed by Table Tennis player Manika Batra, challenging the Rules issued by Table Tennis Federation Of India (TTFI) which makes attending of National Coaching Camp compulsory for being selected for international events.

Batra was aggrieved over the fact that she waa left out of the contingent being sent for the 25th ITTF Asian Table Tennis Championships, 2021 to be held in Doha from September 28 till October 4.

The petition alleged that Soumyadeep Roy, the national coach, had pressurized Batra to "throw away" a match with a view to help one of his trainees at his private academy to qualify for the Olympics, 2020. She thus seeks enquiry into the Federation's management and conduct of Roy.

The development came after the Court in November last year decided to constitute a 3-member committee to inquire into the allegations of match-fixing levelled by Table Tennis player Manika Batra against national coach Soumyadeep Roy.

Today, the Court pulled up the counsel appearing for the TTFI over the manner and conduct of it's officials in the federation, thereby terming the same as sorry state of affairs.

Perusing the report submitted by the three member committee, the Court said thus:

"I am of the view that in case an enquiry is not directed to be conducted into the affairs of TTFI and administrator is not appointed to run the federation in the meanwhile by suspending the executive body, this Court will be failing in its duty not only towards the sportspersons of this Country but also towards the general public itself."

The Court also noted that the the three member committee had opined that the federation, which was entrusted with promoting the National Sports Code was in fact safeguarding the interests of it's officials.

The Court said that there was no explanation either by the federation or Soumyadeep Roy as to why he was appointed as the national coach when he was running his personal academy.

"The report also shows that the committee also observed that respondent no 3 (Soumyadeep Roy) even after being appointed the national coach by respondent no 1 (TTFI) was continuing to run his academy. In these circumstances, this Court has left with no option but to appoint administrator," the Court said.

The Court deemed it appropriate to defer the question as to whether any further enquiry is to be directed in the matter to a date after the parties are granted opportunity to examine the said report.

"However, the appointment of administrator ought not be deferred," the Court said.

"The executive committee of TTFI will no longer be allowed to take decision or interfere with in the manner in which the administrator decides to discharge duties assigned to it under the National Sports Code," the Court added.

The Court said that since there were a number of tournaments in the coming future, it was expected that the members of the executive committee will render assistance to the administrator as and when required.

"Copy of the report will be furnished to the parties by the registry. The same will also be provided to the administrator and other persons appointed," the Court ordered.

The Court also hinted that a person will be authorized to sign cheques on behalf of the TTFI. It said that all banks where TTFI has any accounts will ensure that the signatures of the person are honoured and treated as those of TTFI authorized signatory.

The matter will now be heard on April 19.

Earlier, the Court had directed the Central Government to conduct an independent enquiry into the allegations put forth by Batra and the show cause notices issued to her by the Federation.

On a perusal of the central committee's report headed by the Joint Secretary of the Sports Department, the Court had opined there was no question of any misconduct on Batra's part.

Case Title: Manika Batra v. Table Tennis Federation of India & Ors.