Delhi HC Upholds Suspension Of Indian Golf Union’s Senior Official Over Allegations Of Misconduct At 2024 Paris Olympics

The case centres on claims that the petitioner improperly entered the Olympic Village and attended the opening ceremony with the Indian delegation by using another athlete's pass and obtaining a uniform from a golfer's father.

The petitioner was suspended while an inquiry into the allegations was initiated. In response, he challenged the suspension in the High Court, asserting that the allegations were unfounded and that the IGU's memorandum of association (MoA) lacked any provision for his suspension.

Initially, a single judge of the High Court dismissed his appeal prompting him to seek further review by the Division Bench.

A Division Bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Ravinder Dudeja declined to intervene in the suspension, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations.

The Court said, “We are of the considered opinion that bearing in mind the larger ramifications which arose and the alleged action of the petitioner having the potential to jeopardise the participation of the nation itself, no interference was warranted.”

Advocate Nitish Rana appeared for the Petitioner and Standing Counsel Anil Soni appeared for the Respondents.

The Court added, “Article 36(f) (of the MoA) enables the Council to take disciplinary action against coaches, managers and other personnel representing India or the IGU in sports events. The disciplinary action thus appears to have been initiated and founded on the aforesaid Article bearing in mind the fact that the appellant/ petitioner had held himself out to be a 'caddy' of one of the golfers forming part of the contingent,”

Cause Title: Sundeep Verma v. Union of India & Ors.

Appearance:

Petitioner: Advocates Nitish Rana, Pallavi Garg, Nikhil Kohli, and Vigya Pandey

Respondents: Standing Counsel Anil Soni alongside advocates Devrat Yadav, Apoorv Shukla, Puneet Chahar, and Prabhleen A Shukla.

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