Justice Mittal rebukes AITA interim EC’s decision to appoint observer for EGM

The decision of the interim Executive Committee (EC) of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to appoint an observer for Sunday’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) has been rebuked by the Delhi High Court-appointed administrator Justice (Retd.) Gita Mittal.

The EGM is expected to discuss — and ratify — the amendments proposed by the administrator-led committee to bring AITA’s Constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 and National Sports Governance Rules, 2026.

In a sharply worded letter (dated July 22) to president Chintan N. Parikh, Justice Mittal stated that when the High Court had appointed her as an independent person, voluntarily engaging another was a “direct affront to the High Court”.

The AITA’s move to appoint Justice Ashish J. Desai (Retd.) — former judge of Gujarat High Court, who retired as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court — as part of “good governance and transparency” came after the administrator had chosen four observers with a remuneration of ₹1.5 lakh per person per session.

The AITA said that this expenditure, totalling ₹12 lakh, was “extravagant and unrealistic” for an EGM that will “not have more than 60 members”. It even suggested an alternative where an observer each from both sides can be invited at ₹1 lakh per person.

But the administrator has asked the AITA to not “bypass the orders of the High Court” and stated that her nominees were “qualified and widely experienced in the conduct of such contentious meetings”.

In fact, the AITA was earlier unhappy with the fee for Justice Mittal too, claiming that ₹10 lakh per month was “excessive, arbitrary and unaffordable”.

The administrator has also disapproved AITA’s decision to prepare a chart which will tabulate amendments to each clause, and give members the option to choose either the suggestion of the administrator or that of the interim EC or propose any other modification.

“There are different groups/factions within the association, and each group and member has the right to put across his opinion on the Constitution/Bye-laws. Opinion/suggestions of the EC cannot be accorded priority of opinion,” Justice Mittal wrote.

The administrator pointed out that the consolidated draft of all amendments — as finalised and circulated on July 13 — had incorporated suggestions, comments and objections from everyone, and reasons for disagreements, if any, have been recorded.

“Please remember that this is not an adversarial engagement. The entire effort is to serve the best interests of tennis and its players,” Justice Mittal said.