Ski and Snowboard India is an Independent Body; No Jurisdiction of IOA

On 23 March 2026, the Delhi High Court, in President, Indian Olympic Association & Anr. v. Ski and Snowboard India & Anr. (LPA 104/2026), upheld the quashing of an office order issued by the Indian Olympic Association seeking to appoint an ad hoc committee to manage the affairs of Ski and Snowboard India.

An office order of the IOA dated October 13, 2023, led to the constitution of an ad hoc committee to oversee the functioning of Ski and Snowboard India, including athlete selection and participation in international events, and to conduct elections for its executive body, which led to the dispute. The IOA justified the intervention on the grounds of internal disputes and complaints within the federation.

The order was challenged by Ski and Snowboard India before the High Court on the ground that it is an independent body registered as a society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960, and that the IOA lacked jurisdiction, authority, or power to replace its executive committee or administer its affairs through an external committee. The court accepted this reasoning, leading to the quashing of the office order and a direction to conduct elections within 12 weeks.

Aggrieved, the IOA filed an intra-court appeal on the grounds that (i) Article 17.5 of the Rules and Regulations of the IOA permits the appointment of an ad hoc Committee of Ski and Snow Board India, and (ii) the directions given by the Single Judge for conducting the election are contrary to the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Act, 2025’) and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026.

The Division Bench rejected the IOA’s contentions, holding that Article 17.5 of the IOA’s rules applies only to the IOA’s internal committees and cannot be extended to justify intervention in the affairs of an independent society. The Court observed that Ski and Snowboard India, not being a recognised National Sports Federation or a National Sports Body under the 2025 Act, remains governed solely by its own memorandum of association and by-laws. 

Further, the Court observed that even if Ski and Snowboard India are treated as an affiliate of the IOA, the Indian Olympic Association failed to identify any provision of law that permits it to appoint an ad hoc committee to manage the affairs of its affiliate body. The Court also noted its agreement with a prior judgment in Bihar Olympic Association vs. President Indian Olympic Association and Anr., (2025) SCC OnLine Del 1224, which held that the IOA is not vested with authority to appoint ad hoc committees for independent bodies.

Recognising the autonomy of Ski and Snowboard India, the Court affirmed the need to restore its governance structure through elections. At the same time, it partially modified the Single Judge’s order by setting aside the direction that the IOA bear the returning officer’s expenses, holding that such costs must be borne by Ski and Snowboard India itself.

Accordingly, while upholding the quashing of the IOA’s office order and the direction to conduct elections, the appeal was disposed of with a limited modification regarding the allocation of election-related expenses.