Delhi High Court disposes of contempt petition against AITA interim office-bearers

The Delhi High Court, on Friday, disposed of the contempt petition filed by players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja against the All India Tennis Association’s (AITA) interim office-bearers after the AITA gave an undertaking that all information sought by administrator Justice (retd.) Gita Mittal has been provided and that it would continue to do so until the end of the administrator’s tenure (November 27).

The administrator, in a report dated September 14, had submitted to the Court that looking into the matters of the AITA Trust was a necessary step under her Court-mandated “obligation to supervise the financial affairs of AITA”. She told the Court that the AITA had “assigned and abdicated all its functions, properties and income to the AITA Trust”. Those observations formed part of Justice (retd.) Gita Mittal’s filings to the court in the wider oversight matter.

To Justice Mittal’s request to implead the AITA Trust and the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association for corruption, the HC is learnt to have said that the allegations could be probed by the new AITA body that will take charge after elections. The court further indicated it could re-engage Justice Mittal if that newly elected body required her involvement.

Polls under the amended AITA Constitution are scheduled to be held on November 27. The filing of nominations for the Executive Committee and Athletes Committee elections begins on Saturday. Those elections are intended to install the new AITA body referenced by the court.

All actions pertaining to amending the Constitution in line with the National Sports Governance Act and the conduct of elections will be subject to the final outcome of the case before the court. The court has therefore kept substantive governance changes contingent on its ultimate ruling.

The Delhi High Court will hear the matter again on January 22, 2027, which remains the next scheduled judicial milestone in the proceedings.