Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 25 September 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: Coimbatore Auto Sports Club (Secretary J. Prithiviraj), Madras Motor Sports Club (Secretary Prabha Shankar), Indian Motorsport Marshals Club (Partner Prabha Shankar), Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur (Treasurer Raichand Dilip Kumar Jain).
  • Respondents: Union of India (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports), Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) (Secretary General V.S. Shriakant), Returning Officer V.S. Harish.
  • All writ petitions (W.P.No.39115, 37938, 38910, 38941 of 2026) were filed under Article 226 seeking certiorari and mandamus to quash the notice dated 07‑09‑2026 calling for the 53rd Annual General Meeting of FMSCI and to direct fresh elections in compliance with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026.
  • Petitioners alleged: (a) the election process violated Rule 9 of the Rules which mandates fair, transparent elections every four years; (b) the electoral college was arbitrarily altered by the incumbent President from 20 to 23 members between 11‑09‑2026 and 14‑09‑2026; (c) the Returning Officer was not an independent person as required; (d) the nomination of J. Prithiviraj was rejected because Coimbatore Auto Sports Club had been struck off as a defunct society, despite an ongoing revival application and prior court‑approved participation in 2022 and 2024 elections.
  • Respondent FMSCI argued that the pre‑2025 National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, remained applicable because the new Act and Rules were not fully operational, citing the absence of a Government‑issued National Sports Election Panel at the time of the notice.
  • The Court examined the legislative timeline: the National Sports Governance Act received assent on 01‑01‑2026; Sections 1‑3, 4(1‑2,4), 5(1‑2), 8(5), 11(1), 14, 15, 17(1‑7,10), 30, 31, 33‑38 came into force on 31‑12‑2025 (S.O. 6152(e)); further sections (including Section 16, which creates the Election Panel) came into force on 17‑08‑2026 (S.O. 4566(e)).
  • The Court held that, with the majority of the Act’s provisions in force as of 17‑08‑2026, FMSCI is a “National Sports Federation” governed by the Act and its Rules, and therefore the 07‑09‑2026 election notice is illegal, null and void.
  • The Court noted that any disputes over inclusion or exclusion of voters or nomination rejection are matters for an election petition or tribunal, not for interference under Article 226.

Final Outcome

1. The notice dated 07‑09‑2026 calling for the AGM election of the Council, President and Vice‑President of FMSCI is set aside.

2. The AGM may proceed on all other agenda items, and a Committee shall be formed during the AGM to draft amendments to FMSCI’s bye‑laws to bring them into conformity with the Act and Rules.

3. The amended bye‑laws must be adopted no later than six weeks from 25‑09‑2026.

4. Within two weeks of adopting the amended bye‑laws, an independent Electoral Officer shall be co‑opted from the Government‑issued National Sports Election Panel, and fresh elections shall be notified.

5. The entire election process must be completed as expeditiously as possible, but in any event not later than two months from the date of adoption of the revised bye‑laws.

6. Existing incumbents may continue to hold office for a maximum of six months from 25‑09‑2026; no penal action shall be taken against FMSCI for the delay.

7. If elections are still not concluded after six months, the Union of India may appoint an ad‑hoc Committee, distinct from the current office‑bearers, to oversee the process.

8. The petition W.P.No.39115 (Coimbatore Auto Sports Club) is disposed of without further order, leaving the petitioner free to pursue registration of its society.

9. No order as to costs; all connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

Topics: Sports Governance, Election Law, National Sports Federation