Summary
The court-appointed Archery Association of India administrator exceeded his mandate by unilaterally amending its constitution beyond the four amendments approved by the Supreme Court. The additional amendments and elections under them were declared void. The Court accepted that he acted under a mistaken belief rather than deliberate disobedience. The outgoing elected body was retained temporarily as a restricted Committee of Administrators to conduct fresh elections within four weeks under the court-approved constitution.
Issues
- Whether the administrator could make constitutional amendments beyond those approved on 4 December 2017.
- Whether elections under the administrator’s constitution could stand.
- What interim administration and fresh-election arrangements were required.
Held
- The December 2017 order authorised only four specified amendments and timely elections. Liberty to seek clarification did not authorise unilateral further amendments; prior court permission and the prescribed stakeholder process were required. (¶ 12–15)
- Additional amendments deprived existing members of representation and election participation. Steps beyond the administrator’s authority, including the resulting election, could not be validated. The Court accepted mistaken understanding rather than intentional defiance. (¶¶ 13, 15–19)
- The merits of the additional amendments and wider Sports Code issues were left for the proper amendment process and the pending High Court proceedings. The Court did not determine whether every proposed amendment departed from the Code. (¶¶ 18, 20–22)
- The administrator was relieved. The body then in office continued only as a court-appointed committee for routine administration, without policy decisions or new financial liabilities, pending elections within four weeks; compliance was due to the High Court within six weeks. (¶ 22)
Result
Appeals allowed in the stated terms. Extra amendments and the 22 December 2018 election declared void; four court-approved amendments preserved. Interim committee to hold fresh elections within four weeks and report to the High Court within six weeks. Further lawful amendments and pending PIL issues left to the prescribed process and High Court.