3 min readChandigarhJan 8, 2026 02:00 PM IST
First published on: Jan 8, 2026 at 02:00 PM IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday issued notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a complete overhaul of the Chandigarh Football Association for alleged non-compliance with a landmark Supreme Court judgment on sports governance.
The PIL has been filed by Ranjit Bajaj, a prominent sports reform advocate who owns a football club and a nationally recognised football academy. The matter was argued before Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, who issued a notice to the football body.
Advocate Amitabh Tewari submitted that a September 19, 2025, judgment of the Supreme Court marked a paradigm shift in the administration of Indian sports by mandating transparency, accountability, limited tenures for office-bearers, and, for the first time since Independence, participation of players in sports administration. He argued that the Chandigarh Football Association, functioning under the state football federation, was in clear violation of the principles laid down by the apex court.
Referring to the Supreme Court ruling in All India Football Federation versus Rahul Mehra and others, Tiwari said the judgment approved a reformatory draft constitution prepared under the supervision of a former Supreme Court judge and sports bodies aligned with the National Sports Code. He pointed out that the ruling capped the tenure of office-bearers at a maximum of three terms or 12 years.
The counsel told the court that despite repeated judicial interventions over several decades, sports bodies continued to be dominated by entrenched bureaucratic and political interests, while players were kept out of administrative decision-making. He argued that individuals and families had remained in control of associations for decades, undermining the development of Indian sports.
Emphasising player participation, Tiwari said the apex court judgment mandated the inclusion of eminent sportspersons, including Olympians, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games participants, or national-level champions where international representation was unavailable.
Full compliance with National Sports Code sought
The principal prayer in the PIL seeks directions for a complete restructuring of the Chandigarh Football Association, including reframing of its constitution in conformity with the Supreme Court judgment, ensuring democratic governance, fixed tenures for office-bearers, and full compliance with the National Sports Code.
The court was also informed about the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. Tiwari submitted that while certain provisions of the Act had been notified, several sections were yet to be enforced, leaving the field to be governed by the Supreme Court’s directions.
After hearing the submissions, Chief Justice Nagu issued notice to the respondents, including the Union and the football bodies concerned, in the matter.
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