The Delhi High Court has declined to entertain a plea seeking contempt action against Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra for alleged wilful disobedience of judicial orders.
Karate Association of India secretary-general Ambedkar Gupta had moved the court, accusing Batra of disobeying the High Court orders. The court on February 7 had directed the IOA and Sports Ministry to inform the court prior to taking any decision with regard to the national sports federations.
Gupta had argued that the appointment of an observer for the elections of Rowing Federation of India by the IOA was in defiance of the order. He had also pointed out that the IOA had also not informed the court before issuing a letter to recognise the newly elected sports body.
A bench of Justice Hima Kohli and justice Najmi Waziri had asked the petitioner to place his grievances before advocate Rahul Mehra, on whose petition the February 7 order was passed.
The court further added that Mehra has already been asked to find out which all NSFs are adhering to the sports code and therefore, he can look into the grievances in the contempt plea as well in order to avoid multiplicity in litigation.
The bench gave Gupta liberty to place his grievances before Mehra. The contempt plea was withdrawn by him.