Maravarma Sundara Pandian, v. State Of Tamil Nadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 30-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ and WMP Nos.26981, 26982, 26984, 27086 and 27092 of 2026 WP No.24758 of 2026

1. Maravarma Sundara Pandian, Secretary, Mother Land Sports Club, Flat 2A, No.264, 6th Main Road, LIC Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai 600 091.

2. R.K. Diwakar, Secretary, VM Football Club, No.6, Crescent Colony, K. P. Dasan Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600 018.

3. B. Ravi Kumar David, Secretary, Dynamos Football Club, No.17, KalathiappaMudali Street, Choolai, Chennai 600 112.

4. B. Ragupathy Secretary, Young Gems Club Asirvathapuram, II Street, Pulianthope, Chennai - 600 012.

5. J. Ebenezer Victor Santhakumar, Secretary, George Town Social Club, 1181 C, 16th Street, West End Colony, Anna Nagar West Extension, Chennai - 600 050.

6. A. Prem Anand, Secretary, Rangoon FC, No.1, Thandavan Street, Purasawalkam,

Chennai-600 007.

7. J. M. Fernando, Secretary, Hindustan Eagles, No.34, II Floor, Arunodaya Apartments, 175/204, Collaimedu High Road, Chennai - 600 094.

8. John Bosco, Secretary, D.B. Annai Youth, No.10, Bunder Garden, 3rd Street, Perambur, Chennai - 600 011.

9. R. Dhandapani Secretary, Challengers Union Football Club, E Block, 12, Mohana Apartment, No.96, Arcot Road, Virugambakkam, Chennai - 600 092.

10.K.Thiyagarajan, Secretary, Arrows Football Club, Q/50, MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600 106.

11.M. Kumaresh, Secretary, Madras Youth Festival, 22/24, Temple Road, Medavakkam, Chennai - 600 010.

12.K.A. Mohamed Kasim, Secretary, Minerva Football Club, 50, Anderson Street, 2nd Floor, George Town, Chennai - 600 001.

..Petitioner(s) Vs 1.

State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George,

Chennai 600 009.

2. All India Football Federation, Football House, Sector-19, Phase 1, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075.

3.

Tamil Nadu Football Association, Represented by its Administrator, No.73, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai 600 003.

4.

Election Committee, Chennai Football Association, Mr. G. Dharmaraj, District Judge (Retd.), Chairman, E3, E Block, Lake View Apartments, Anna Nedum Salai, Perungudi, Chennai 600 096.

5.

Chennai Football Association, Represented by its Secretary (as claimed), 9/23, North Madha Church Street, Royapuram, Chennai 600 013.

6.

Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu,Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Raja Muthiah Road, Periyamet, Chennai 600003.

..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the 4th Respondent in the letter dated 17.06.2026 and the consequential final list of valid nominations released on 22.06.2026 and quash the same and consequently direct the 3rd Respondent to appoint an independent Election Officer to conduct elections to the 5th Respondent Association in a free, impartial and a transparent manner in accordance with the Orders of the 3rd Respondent dated

14.08.2024 and 05.04.2026.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.N.Surya Narayanan For Respondent(s):

Mr.J.SAKTHI BAALAKRISHNAN, for Government for R1 Mr.Abishek Jenasenan, Standing Counsel for R2 Mrs.Kanimozhimathi Standing Counsel for R3 Mr.Mahesh Kumar.S.

Standing Counsel for R4 Ms.N.S.Tanvi Standing Counsel for R6 Mr.Bharadwaja Ramasubramaniam for R5 WP No. 24835 of 2026 Tourist Club Represented by its Secretary, George Fernandez, No.10A, Abirami Park, Porur Street, Tambaram East, Chennai- 059.

..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. UNION OF INDIA,

Represented by the Secretary Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi- 110 001.

2. All India Football Federation (AIFF) Represented by its Secretary General, Football House, Sector 19, Dwarka , New Delhi- 110 075.

3. Tamil Nadu Football Association (TFA) Represented by its General Secretary, Room No.73, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai-03

4. Chennai Football Association (CFA) Represented by its Honorary Secretary, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.

5. S.Dharmaraj, Chairman, Election Committee Chennai Football Association,Chennai.

6. E.Sugumaran, Purported Honorary Secretary Chennai Football Association,Chennai.

7. Indian Olympic Association B-29, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi- 110 016.

8.Tami Nadu Olympic Association Room No.78, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Raja Muthiah Road,KannapparThidal, Periyamet, Chennai-03.

..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue Writ of Mandamus, directing fourth respondent to first amend its Bye-Laws in full conformity with the NSGA 2025 and Sports Governance

Rules 2026.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.PRAMODHKUMAR For Respondent(s):

MR.M.RAMAMOORTHI, STANDING COUNSEL FOR RR1 Mr.Abishek Jenasenan, Standing Counsel for R2 MS.KANIMOZHI, FOR R3 Mr.R.Bharadwajarama Subramaniam for R5 Mr.Mahesh Kumar.S.

Standing Counsel for R4 COMMON ORDER W.P.No.24758 of 2026:

1. The writ petition has been filed challenging the communication dated 17.06.2026 of the fourth respondent and consequential final list of valid nominations released on 22.06.2026 and consequently direct third respondent to appoint an independent Election Officer to conduct elections to fifth respondent Association in a free, impartial and a transparent manner, in accordance with the Orders of third respondent dated 14.08.2024 and 05.04.2026. W.P.No.24758 of 2026:

2. The writ petition has been filed for a direction to fourth respondent to

first amend its Bye-Laws in full conformity with the NSGA 2025 and Sports Governance Rules 2026.

3. Petitioners are aggrieved by the fact that while preparing the electoral roll, they have been excluded although they ought to have been included resulting in deprivation of their right to vote/participate in the election.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that they have been de-listed as being inactive members for extraneous reasons.

5. This Court is not inclined to express any view on the above aspect. It is open to petitioners to work out their remedy in the manner known to law.

6. Mr.Abishek Jenasenan. learned Standing Counsel for All India Football Federation, would submit that with the introduction of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, All India Football Federation (AIFF) has drawn up guidelines as to how elections ought to be conducted by Asssociation at various levels including District, State and National Level Associations. The guidelines are likely to be published shortly. He would submit that any election if in conflict with those guidelines may turn out to be a wasteful exercise and would thus suggest that Chennai Football Association, who proposes to conduct

the elections through the Election Committee, Chennai Football Association keep the elections in abeyance until the guidelines are published by AIFF, which was agreed to by learned counsel for petitioners, Election Committee, Chennai Football Association, as well as Chennai Football Association.

7. Learned counsel for Chennai Football Association would submit that in terms of the by-laws, it is necessary for them to conduct elections once in four years. The above period would expire on 30.06.2026.

8. In view thereof, this Court is inclined to dispose of writ petition with following directions:

i) Chennai Football Association, who proposes to conduct the elections through the Election Committee, Chennai Football Association, shall keep the elections in abeyance until the guidelines are published by AIFF, ii) It is made clear that elections are not being conducted by Chennai Football Association within the stipulated period only in view of this order and therefore, the Tamil Nadu Football Association is directed not to take any consequential action in view of non-compliance with the time schedule for conducting elections by the Chennai Football Association. This is also stated keeping in view the legal maxim i.e. Actus Curiae Neminem Gravabit -no one shall suffer by an act of the Court.

9. Accordingly, writ petitions stand disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 30-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order MRN To

1. State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by the Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

2. All India Football Federation, Football House, Sector-19, Phase 1, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075

3. Tamil Nadu Football Association, Rep. by its Administrator, No.73, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai 600 003

4. Election Committee, Chennai Football Association, Mr. G. Dharmaraj, Dist. Judge (Retd.), Chairman E3, E Block, Lake View Apartments, Anna Nedum Salai, Perungudi, Chennai 600 096

5. Chennai Football Association Rep. by its Secretary (as claimed) 9/23, North Madha Church Street, Royapuram, Chennai 600 013

6. Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Raja Muthiah Road, Periyamet, Chennai 600003.

7. The Secretary, UNION OF INDIA, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi- 110 001.

8. S.Dharmaraj, Chairman, Election Committee Chennai Football Association,Chennai.

9. E.Sugumaran, Purported Honorary Secretary Chennai Football Association,Chennai.

10. Indian Olympic Association B-29, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi- 110 016.

11.Tami Nadu Olympic Association Room No.78, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Raja Muthiah Road,KannapparThidal, Periyamet, Chennai-03.

MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J.

MRN 30-06-2026