Delhi Court Halts Controversial Equestrian Federation Meeting

The Delhi High Court has put a hold on an Extraordinary General Meeting called by the Equestrian Federation of India. The meeting's legality was contested by the Rajasthan Equestrian Association due to procedural lapses, sparking a deeper investigation into governance issues within the federation.

The Delhi High Court has intervened in the ongoing turmoil within the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), staying the notice for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) scheduled to take place in Delhi's Dhaula Kuan. Justice Sachin Datta issued this interim order on the basis of a petition filed by the Rajasthan Equestrian Association, which questioned the notification's legality issued by retired Colonel Jaiveer Singh, who lays claim to the position of EFI Secretary General.

Representing the petitioner, Senior Advocate Rajeev Dutta along with Advocate Ashish Kothari, argued that the meeting was being convened without adhering to the mandatory requirements set forth in the EFI Statute. They highlighted that the notice was not formally presented to the Federation's Executive Committee and had not been communicated to all respective members. Senior Advocate Pragyan Pradip Sharma, appearing for EFI, supported the petition, claiming that convening the EOGM sidestepped key procedural protocols and infringed upon members' statutory rights as outlined in Article 007 of the Federation's constitution.

The opposition's stance, led by Senior Advocate Amit Sibal representing the Chandigarh Horse Riders Society, was based on the argument that the Secretary General was obligated to arrange the EOGM following the receipt of the mandatory requisitions. However, the court identified unresolved conflicts within EFI's governance and membership framework, which are under review by a fact-finding committee led by Justice (Retd.) Najmi Waziri. The court further highlighted procedural discrepancies, including inadequate notification timelines and non-adherence to Article 012 of the EFI Statute, prompting the restraint on proceeding with the EOGM. Further hearings have been scheduled for October 13 in conjunction with related cases.

(With inputs from agencies.)