The Supreme Court allows the current AIFF Executive Committee to continue until the end of its term in September 2026

The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the current executive committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), led by Kalyan Chaubey, to continue till the end of its term in September next year.

The Supreme Court in its October 15 order also said that the AIFF need not adopt Article 23.3 of the draft Constitution regarding the requirement of SC nod for any amendment.

It, however, asked the national federation to adopt Article 25.3 (c) and (d) within three weeks, which prohibited office-bearers from holding dual posts in the AIFF and state units.

Article 23.3 provides that changes to the Articles of Association of the AIFF shall not come into force without the approval of the SC. According to Article 25.3 (c) and (d), an office holder in the Executive Committee of the AIFF cannot hold office as an office holder in a Member State Association.

“In our judgment, we have allowed the current executive to continue till the end of his term to ensure that there is minimum disruption to the already postponed sporting events,” the SC said in its October 15 order after the AIFF sought clarification on the two controversial articles – Article 23.3, and Article 25.3 (c) and 25.3 (d).

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«In the same vein, and to serve the same purpose, we direct AIFF to adopt Articles 25.3 (c) and (d) within three weeks from today. We are, therefore, of the view that these Articles shall be retained. However, Articles 25.3 (c) and 25.3 (d) shall come into force after the current executive departs from office,» the SC bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi said.

The SC, however, clarified that “the said articles, like many others, would be subject to the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and the underlying legislation that may fall under it.

The National Sports Governance Act is expected to come into force in two months.

The SC, however, rejected AIFF’s contention that banning officials from holding dual posts would lead to unavailability of experienced personnel to man the national federation and its affiliated associations.

«…we believe that they do not violate any law, regulation or even the FIFA Charter. Concerns about the unavailability of experienced personnel to staff AIFF and other affiliated associations if these articles are included are speculative. No credible data has been presented to us to support such fears.

With regard to Article 23.3, the SC bench of two said: «Reiterating our views expressed in … our judgment, we direct that once the AIFF has adopted the Draft Constitution as finalized by us, it (AIFF) shall be governed by laws applicable to such bodies and this shall include the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 and the underlying legislation may be made thereunder, as and when the same come into force. Article 23.3 need not therefore not to be accepted..

On October 12, the AIFF approved the SC-approved constitution at its special general meeting but left out two contentious Articles 23.3 and 25.3 (c) and (d) “pending directions from the Apex Court”.

The SC had on September 19 approved the AIFF draft constitution prepared by former top judge L Nageswara Rao with certain amendments and directed the federation to adopt it within four weeks.

Fearing that all executive committee members holding dual positions would have to resign, the AIFF on October 9 approached the court seeking clarification on the two articles. The SC then asked Justice (Retd) Rao to hold a meeting with the stakeholders and submit a report.

Justice (retd) Rao left it to the SC to take “an appropriate view” on the two controversial articles, but made it clear that he had earlier recommended that both articles be deleted from the draft constitution.

Published on October 18, 2025