New Delhi: At a time when the All India Football Federation is dealing with an overflow of various complaints, fresh appointments in its key judicial bodies have evoked a sense of concern within the organisation, raising question marks over integrity and efficiency of the process and their operation in a fair and transparent manner.
Through a letter sent to all its executive committee members on March 21, the AIFF sought approval from them for addition of new recommended members to its disciplinary and appeals committees.
The AIFF sought approval to include Retd. Justice Raghvendra Kumar (Allahabad High Court), former referee Chitta Das Majumdar, Lt. Gen. Ahlawat, Abhijith B and Sunit Sharma in the existing five-member disciplinary committee chaired by Servesh Kumar Gupta.
The federation also informed its willingness to appoint Raghvendra Kumar as deputy chairperson as incumbent Anirudha Jairam would be moved to become a member of the current five-member appeals committee, which would see departures of the resigned Sanjay Yadav and the inactive Aqeel Ansari.
Retd. Justice (Session Court) Ashok Tripathi and former player Dipankar Roy are the recommended names to replace Yadav and Ansari in the appeals committee.
“We look forward to your approval and any suggestions to finalise this at the earliest,” AIFF secretary general Anilkumar Prabhakaran appealed through the letter.
The manner in which a shake-up of the judicial committees is proposed has been questioned by AIFF’s executive committee member Valanka Alemao Churchill, at a time when the judicial bodies are in the midst of hearing several complaints that could potentially decide the I-League championship.
‘Serious concerns’
Replying to AIFF’s letter on March 24, Valanka expressed “serious concerns” regarding the proposed appointments and transfers within the judicial bodies.
“It is my considered opinion that transferring Mr. Aniruddha Jairam from the AIFF Disciplinary Committee (DC) to the Appeals Committee would be unproductive.
“Many of his decisions from the DC are currently under challenge. This would necessitate frequent recusals on his part, significantly impairing the efficiency and speed of the Appeals Committee’s proceedings,” she said.
“This potential for consistent recusals raises serious concerns about the committee’s ability to function effectively.”
Valanka also raised the lack of transparency and absence of crucial details, including curriculum vitae (CVs) of the proposed members.
“Without access to their relevant experience and qualifications, a meaningful discussion and assessment of their suitability is impossible. It is imperative that the AIFF provides the CV’s of each candidate,” the CEO of I-League side Churchill Brothers, who are currently locked in a four-way fight for the I-League title, said.
She added that circulating proposed minutes for approval without proper background information and transparency could negatively impact the Supreme Court’s perception of the AIFF’s governance, at a time when the apex court is examining all issues related to the federation’s functioning, with a hearing scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
The absence of women candidates in the two panels was also mentioned with a request to “make a concerted effort” to include qualified women in the judicial bodies to ensure “diversity and representation”.
“It is deeply concerning that all the proposed names are of men,” Valanka pointed out.
Highlighting these concerns, she urged the AIFF to reconsider the proposed appointments and transfers with the belief that her recommendations are essential to “maintain the integrity and efficiency” of the AIFF’s judicial processes and to ensure free and fair functioning of the organisation.
Enter Roy
But it seems Valanka’s concerns fell on deaf ears as the AIFF formally appointed Dipankar Roy into the appeals committee on March 27, acknowledging his “vast experience, which will be invaluable in upholding fairness and integrity within the footballing ecosystem.”
Roy, who was among two East Bengal footballers arrested and then granted bail for being involved in providing shelter to an alleged multiple murder-accused gangster Dilip Banerjee (popularly known as ‘hathkata‘ Dilip) in 2004, was appointed in an honorary capacity.
Concerns were raised when the AIFF sought approval from its executive committee for addition of new recommended members to its disciplinary and appeals committees. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
