AITA Takes a Historic Step Toward NSG Act Compliance with Constitution Overhaul

New Delhi, July 26 — On a sunny Sunday, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) gathered its members for an extraordinary general meeting that felt a little like a courtroom drama and a lot like a family gathering. The purpose? To put to vote a draft constitution painstakingly prepared by Justice (Retd.) Gita Mittal, the court‑appointed administrator tasked with steering the federation back onto the straight and narrow.

“It is a historic day for AITA,” Justice Mittal opened, her words echoing through the hall. “We are on the brink of becoming the first national sports federation to fully comply with the National Sports Governance Act of 2025.” The sentiment was palpable; even the murmur of the crowd seemed to carry a hint of pride.

Forty‑seven delegates, representing 28 affiliated state units, cast their votes—not with the usual show‑of‑hands, but via secret ballot, a move meant to encourage frankness. Representatives from Goa and Pondicherry were the only notable absentees, leaving a few seats empty but the atmosphere still lively.

The amendments on the table were a mixed bag of the straightforward and the contentious. A unanimous cheer rose when the proposal to induct two para‑athlete representatives—one of them a woman—into the General Body was accepted. That gesture, many felt, was long overdue and signaled a genuine attempt to widen the sport’s inclusivity.

However, not everything sailed smoothly. The voting structure sparked a debate: Justice Mittal suggested a single vote per state association, yet the members opted to retain the traditional two‑vote system. Likewise, the age‑cap clause divided opinions. Some advocated for a maximum age of 75 years, while a vocal minority pushed for a stricter 70‑year limit. Both proposals went to a secret ballot, and the results were still being tallied as reporters filed their notes.

Interim president Chintan Parikh guided the discussion, fielding questions and clarifying each amendment’s intent. He later told PTI that roughly 70 % of the administrator’s suggested changes, where there was consensus, sailed through. Where the Executive Committee had reservations, the altered versions were also approved, making for a surprisingly smooth session despite the occasional raised eyebrows.

This meeting was not just a procedural formality. It follows a June 18 order from the Delhi High Court, which directed the AITA General Body to consider each clause individually and to hold fresh elections for the Executive Committee by September 30, under the new constitutional framework. The court’s oversight stems from a 2024 writ petition filed by former tennis stars Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja, who challenged the legitimacy of the September 2024 elections, alleging breaches of the National Sports Development Code and prior court directives.

As the votes are counted and the final tally emerges, the tennis community watches closely. If the amendments are ratified, AITA will set a precedent for other national sports federations, showing that compliance with the NSG Act is not merely a legal box‑ticking exercise but a pathway to more transparent, inclusive, and accountable governance.