Ex-judge Rao asked by SC to prepare report on finalisation of constitution of AIFF

New Delhi: After noting the concerns raised by various stakeholders to the draft constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Supreme Court on May 2 requested former Supreme Court justice Justice L. Nageswara Rao to provide a report by July 31 on the finalisation of the AIFF constitution.

Justice Rao can address the numerous objections to the draft constitution raised by various stakeholders after hearing from the parties involved, according to a bench that included Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala.

“We are of the view that it will be appropriate to defer this exercise [of finalising the constitution] since these are not issues of law but matters of policy dealing with the running sport of football in India. Bearing in mind that the case of the Indian Olympic Association was handled by Justice L.N. Rao, we entrust Justice Rao with the task of formulating the AIFF constitution. We request him to take the draft constitution prepared and finalise a report. In finalising the report Justice Rao is requested to hear all stakeholders," the court said.

It said the exercise of considering the draft constitution and preparing a comprehensive report to be completed by July 31.

Earlier, the top court on April 5 had said that it will hear on May 2 a batch of pleas on issues related to the AIFF, including objections raised to certain aspects of its draft constitution.

The stakeholders include the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and sports bodies in the country.

With PTI inputs