Delhi HC directs Narinder Batra to step down as IOA president

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday ordered Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra to step down immediately from his post. A vacation bench of Justice Dinesh Sharma stated that the illegal post of life president or life member cannot be the stepping stone for any other position or benefit elsewhere, be it nationally (including in the Indian Olympic Association) or in international bodies. "If R-3 (Batra) has so benefited, then such benefit or position shall end right away. Let the CoA look into the matter, so would the Government of India," Justice Sharma said in the order.

After the Delhi High Court order, Anil Khanna, the senior-most vice president of the body will be the new acting president of IOA. The order of the court was following a contempt petition moved by former hockey player Aslam Sher Khan-- who was a part of the winning team that won the gold medal in the 1975 Hockey World Cup. On May 25, the Delhi High Court had held that Hockey India has violated the National Sports Code and constituted a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run its day-to-day affairs.

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