SC issues showcause notice to AIFF president on ‘delaying tactics’ in election petition; Chaubey says lawyers will respond

Chaubey says the Court is being mislead by the other party and my lawyer will soon put forth our side to the Court.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and P S Narasimha took strong exception over the Indian football chief adopting “delaying tactics” and said even his lawyers are in collusion. | Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K / The Hindu

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a show cause notice to All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey for seeking adjournments in an election petition pending before the Calcutta High Court and said he was adopting “delaying tactics”.

The court’s observation came on a plea alleging that Chaubey was deliberately delaying the election petition related to Maniktala assembly constituency in North Kolkata. The seat fell vacant after the demise of TMC MLA Sadhan Pandey in 2022.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and P S Narasimha took strong exception over Chaubey adopting “delaying tactics” and said even his lawyers are in collusion.

In the show cause notice, the bench sough an explanation for him as to why he should not relieved of his responsibilities as AIFF president and Indian Olympic Association joint secretary to fully concentrate on the case.

“We are satisfied that respondent number is 3 (Chaubey) is adopting every possible delaying tactic. His counsels are also colluding and seeking adjournments on one pretext or the other...We therefore issue show cause notice to respondent number 3 that in order to expedite the election petition to be taken on day-to-day basis,” it said.

“Respondent no 3 to show cause why we should he be not relived from his responsibilities as president of All India Football Association and joint secretary of Indian Olympic Association through a judicial order. It will enable respondent number 3 to fully concentrate on conclusion of election petition proceedings,” the bench said.

It said the bench makes it clear that in case if he does not appear (for the hearing), “we will issue non-bailable warrants as he is defying court orders deliberately and willfully”.

Chaubey responds

Chaubey responded by stating his desire for a swift resolution. He said as a petitioner in the case he wants the election for the Maniktala Assembly constituency to be held at the earliest. “I had filed the petition in 2021 and I have regularly attended the proceedings in the Court. The Court is being mislead by the other party and my lawyer will soon put forth our side to the Court,” Chaubey said.

Chaubey also detailed his attendance record, stating, “I have physically attended hearings at the Calcutta High Court 15 times between August 31, 2023 to April 26, 2024. Each hearing went on for about ninety minutes and was usually scheduled between 3 pm to 4:30 pm.”