All India Chess Federation restores affiliation of Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA)

A protracted legal dispute over the Pune-based Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA)'s disaffiliation by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) in 2016 has now finally come to a conclusion. In a Special General Body Meeting (SGM), a five-member panel decided to restore the affiliation of MCA along with Rajasthan Chess Association.

The dispute had originally stemmed from a factional tussle within the MCA, which was registered as a society in 1975 by way of amalgamation of the then five regional chess bodies in the state. The association was then granted affiliation by the AICF in 1978.

Much later, in 2012, the AICF had asked all its affiliates to amend their bye laws and be in line with one nation, one federation norm. However, the tussle within MCA factions resulted in delay the completion of the entire process. At that time, the association had approved the amendments but they were pending approval from the office of the charity commissioner.

https://twitter.com/MahaChess/status/1252923265485398016

In December 2016, the AICF disaffiliated the MCA for not amending their bye laws in time and granted affiliation to a parallel body in the state, thus setting off the legal dispute. Almost four years later, under the guidance of former president Ashok Jain, the MCA has been able to restore not only their affiliation but also their pride.

In an official statement, the body declared. “Justice can be delayed but seldom gets denied. The truth prevails at the end. Today finally the Maharashtra Chess Association won a battle it fought for the last 4 years to bring back the honour and pride to the beautiful game of Chess.”

“On this historic day, the MCA team thanks all Chess players, FIDE, office bearers of MCA, Ministry of Sports and all state associations for standing with us in these testing times,” it further added.