SC Dismisses Tamil Nadu Football Association’s Plea Against Order for Appointment of Admin Panel

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by the Tamil Nadu Football Association challenging a Madras High Court order appointing a committee to examine the football body’s affairs until a new administrative panel is appointed.

Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan observed that the plea constituted an abuse of the legal process and imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the office bearers of the Tamil Nadu Football Association, including its president Jesiah Villavarayar.

The apex court directed that the cost be deposited with the Supreme Court Middle Income Group Legal Aid Services. It also instructed its registry to consider the matter as a contempt petition if the members fail to deposit the cost amount, clarifying that the office bearers shall not reimburse the cost from the association.

“The issue here is that you are not spending money from your pocket, so you don’t appreciate the burden of litigation. You are using public funds. This is all self-promotion and an abuse of the legal process,” remarked the bench.

The top court heard an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu Football Association and its office bearers against the September 20, 2023 order of the high court, which had established an administrative committee comprising retired judge Justice A K Rajan (Retd) and four other members.

The high court had stated that the administrative committee would administer the association until a new administrative body is elected and approved by the court.