The Delhi High Court has ordered the initiation of fresh elections for the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) following the expiry of its existing Executive Committee’s tenure. The decision was delivered after deliberations in Court 14 by Justice Kaurav, responding to an application from the Union of India seeking the appointment of an ad-hoc administrative committee for the EFI.
The request for an ad-hoc administrative committee came after the executive committee, which had been reinstated for the Paris Olympics, completed its tenure. The Rajasthan Equestrian Association emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating that the elections were long overdue.
The Delhi High Court responded by outlining concrete steps to ensure the federation’s compliance with the latest regulatory framework. A significant factor in the court’s directive was the enactment of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and the notification of the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026. Rule 18 of these new rules requires all National Sports Federations to amend their bye-laws in accordance with the 2025 Act, making compliance a legal obligation for continued operation.
Under the court’s order, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will appoint an independent ad-hoc committee. The current Executive Committee has been instructed to transfer control to the ad-hoc committee within seven days to avoid any administrative gaps and ensure a smooth transition.
WHAT IS THE ORDER FROM DELHI HC?
1. In view of the above circumstances, and having regard to the statutory regime now in force under the NSG Act, this Court deems it appropriate to issue the following directions:
i. The Indian Olympic Association shall forthwith appoint an Ad-Hoc Committee to take over the administration of EFI. The present Executive Committee of EFI shall hand over charge to the Ad-Hoc Committee within seven days from the date of its appointment.
ii. The Ad-Hoc Committee shall, within a period of 2 months from the date of its appointment, finalise the Constitution and By-laws of EFI in conformity with NSG Act, and the Rules framed thereunder.
iii. Upon finalisation of the Constitution and By-laws, the Ad-Hoc Committee shall notify elections within thirty days. Upon completion of the electoral process, the newly elected body shall assume charge of the administration of EFI.
iv. The elected body shall, as its first measure, ratify and adopt the Constitution of EFI in strict compliance with the mandate of the NSG Act and the applicable Rules.
2. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition along with all pending applications, stands disposed of.
The ad-hoc committee is tasked with reviewing and amending the EFI constitution within three months. Their primary responsibility is to ensure the constitution aligns with the requirements of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, with all necessary changes proposed, debated, and finalised during this period.
After the constitutional amendments are completed, the court has mandated that fresh elections be conducted within one month. The newly elected General Body will then be required to ratify the constitutional amendments, solidifying the federation’s compliance with the new legal framework and establishing its governance structure for the future.
This decision follows an earlier order on May 29, 2024, in which a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court stayed the appointment of an ad-hoc administrative committee and restored control to the 20-member Executive Committee elected in 2019.
