Somdev, Purav file petition against AITA for breaching Sports Code: Report

Former Indian tennis star Somdev Devvarman and doubles specialist Purav Raja filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, accusing the All India Tennis Association (AITA) of violating the National Sports Development Code of India (2011), reported The Tribune.

The latest development in Indian tennis came just days ahead of AITA’s scheduled elections on September 28, with India's Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal fighting for the top post along with Chintan Parikh.

Somdev and Purav argued that the AITA has failed to comply with the Sports Code, a requirement mandated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The petition emphasised the importance of AITA adhering to the code, stating, "It is essential that AITA and its constituents comply fully with the Sports Code. The Ministry should ensure this compliance before allowing fresh elections, which should be held in a fair, transparent, and democratic manner."

This legal move followed growing discontent among Indian players, including the country’s No. 1 men's singles player Sumit Nagal and Mukund Sasikumar, who have raised concerns about the functioning of AITA officials.

Somdev and Purav specifically alleged that AITA breached the Sports Code by failing to allocate seats for athletes in its general assembly/ executive committee, despite the code making such representation mandatory.

The National Sports Development Code requires federations to include former players as players' representatives in the governing body, a provision AITA is accused of ignoring.

In their petition, Somdev and Purav seek the court's intervention to ensure the upcoming elections strictly adhere to the Sports Code. They also request the appointment of an independent administrator to oversee the national federation’s operations.

"We request the appointment of a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge as Administrator of AITA, with the necessary professionals assisting the process," the petition added.