Delhi HC orders Narinder Batra to stop functioning as IOA chief

Narinder Batra was on Friday ordered to quit working as Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president by the Delhi High Court “in a contempt proceeding”, a month after it asked him to relinquish the top job

A vacation seat of Justice Dinesh Sharma passed the order on a disdain request recorded by Olympian and hockey World Cup champ Aslam Sher Khan.

“It was a contempt proceeding as Mr. Batra was continuing to attend meeting as IOA president despite an earlier order of this court.

“The court also said Mr. Anil Khanna, senior vice-president, will be the acting president of the IOA,” he added.

On May 25, Batra was taken out as IOA chief after the Delhi High Court. Around then likewise, the IOA had introduced Khanna as its acting chief.

Batra had filed his nomination for the IOA president’s post as a delegate (life member) Hockey India.

The HC additionally cracked down on Batra for attempting to “benefit” somewhere else from an “illegal” post.

“What a paradox, to make oneself permanent in an entity whose tenure itself is impermanent. 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 Indian Olympic Association) or in international bodies,” the HC bench said.

In April, the CBI had likewise started a primer request against Batra for supposed misappropriation of public funds.