PUNE: Emphasising on an urgent need for a complete overhaul of the “electoral college” in the All India Tennis Association (AITA), Davis Cupper Purav Raja said the players’ sole demand was for a “more accountable, transparent” national governing body.
Raja, a two-time doubles titlist on the ATP Tour, and Somdev Devvarman, a double Asian Games gold medallist, had filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against the AITA elections held in 2024.
The court in April, while disposing of the case, allowed the new set of office-bearers to take charge but also appointed an administrator, Justice Gita Mittal, with a mandate to amend AITA’s constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act (2025) and conduct fresh elections.
The AITA, following a meeting of its Executive Committee in Delhi earlier this week, has filed an appeal against the order. It is expected to be heard on Friday.
The AITA had earlier issued a statement welcoming the court order.
IF ALL CLEAN, WHY CLEAN UP?Raja said he had faith in the judicial system to bring about the necessary change in AITA.
“I'm sure she will give a fair hearing and make sure we have a better and more accountable, transparent association,” he said.
“Even by their own admission, the elections are illegal in terms of (breach of) age and term (limits) … and how they're going to clean up the system.
“If it's not dirty, then there's nothing to clean up, right? If they want to clean up everything now, then how can a wrongly elected committee be in charge and make decisions?"
Justice Mittal held an online meeting with the players on Sunday.
“It's very disturbing to know that, from a player’s perspective, the same people who I was talking to when I was under-10 and were in administration, are the exact same people I'm talking to when I'm 40 years old,” Raja said.
“That's 30 years. This is not a personal vendetta against any one person, it is the entire association.
“The electoral college needs to change. This includes the entire association, the districts, the states.
“The key is that we're just adhering to the (national sports) code, which by their own admission they are not. So, why can't they change it, adhere to the code, do the job that's required?"
CONFLICT OF INTERESTRaja said commercial contracts being given out to kin of office-bearers and other officials holding key positions, either at state or national level, was also an area of concern.
“Our problems are so deep rooted that Indian tennis has never seen anything like this," he said.
“I am not there to draft the rules. We have to leave it to the (administrator). We have to have some norms, some basic practices that all of us need to follow now.
“Sports administration is there to support the players, to guide us to have a better system. We have to be accountable and transparent in every single way, which we haven't been.”
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