The Supreme Court of India has asked former judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao to prepare a report on the finalization of the constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) by July 31. This decision was made after the court took note of objections to the draft constitution by various stakeholders.
The objections to the draft constitution were voluminous, with various stakeholders raising concerns about different aspects of the document. The court has delegated the task of finalizing the constitution to Justice Rao, who will be tasked with hearing all stakeholders and preparing a comprehensive report.
The court noted that the issues raised in the objections were not matters of law, but rather policy decisions that dealt with running the sport of football in India. Given that Justice Rao had previously handled the case of the Indian Olympic Association, the court believed he was well-suited to the task of formulating the AIFF constitution.
The stakeholders in this case include the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and sports bodies in the country. The court has asked Justice Rao to take into account the objections raised by these stakeholders and to formulate a constitution that addresses their concerns.
This decision by the Supreme Court is a significant step towards resolving the long-standing issues that have plagued the AIFF. The federation has been embroiled in controversies for several years, with various stakeholders accusing it of mismanagement, corruption, and favoritism.
The AIFF has also been criticized for its failure to promote and develop football in the country. India, despite having a population of over a billion people, has struggled to make a mark in international football, and the sport has remained largely neglected in the country.
The finalization of a new constitution for the AIFF could potentially pave the way for much-needed reforms in the federation. It remains to be seen what changes the new constitution will bring and whether they will be enough to revive Indian football. However, the fact that the Supreme Court has taken an active interest in this matter is a positive development that could have far-reaching implications for the sport in the country.