TN Football Association : Supreme Court Stays HC Order For Fresh Elections; Directs Earlier Administrative Committee To Handle Affairs

The Supreme Court today stayed the Madras High Court order of July 4, which directed fresh elections for the Tamil Nadu Football Association (TNFA) noting that there was non-compliance with its earlier directives.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi passed the order, while issuing notice on two pleas, including one filed by the Chennai Football Association against the High Court order.

"The affairs of the Tamil Nadu Football Association shall continue to be looked after by the Administrative Committee which was earlier appointed by the High Court", the Court said.

Briefly put, one of the cases filed before the High Court challenged the manner in which TNFA, the apex body of football in Tamil Nadu, was functioning. It alleged that the office bearers of the association continued to manage affairs even though their tenure had ended, without conducting fresh elections. It further claimed that the office bearers were functioning against the constitution and principles of natural justice.

In 2023, a Division Bench of the High Court constituted an administrative committee to look into the affairs of TNFA till a new administrative body was appointed. Later, certain directions were issued, including that the Administrative Committee shall administer TNFA till such time a new administrative body was elected and approved by the Court.

In July, 2024, the Administrative Committee appointed the Election Officer. As per election notification dated 21.04.2025, it wrote a letter to the Election Officer stating that it had taken a considered decision to conduct elections of TNFA immediately, excluding Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Kanyakumari District Football Associations.

On May 31 this year, TNFA elections took place, however, did not get the High Court approval. In the impugned order of July 4, the High Court observed that the election notification did not give district football associations an opportunity to raise objections to the list of approved candidates.

"But the more alarming aspect is that, over and above 22 members that had been approved as on 21/22.04.2025, four (4) other members have been added to the list, viz., 1 district on 22.04.2025 (Tirunelveli) and 3 districts on 26.05.2025 (Chennai, Coimbatore and Trichy)", the High Court said.

Though justifications were offered regarding inclusion of Chennai, Coimbatore and Trichy District Associations to the approved list, the High Court was not convinced.

"it is a fact that those districts, Trichy, Coimbatore and Chennai, were included in the approved list of districts only on 26.05.2025, just four days prior to the date of election. There is no dispute on this aspect and we are hence constrained to direct re-elections as the procedure is clearly contrary to that directed by the Division Bench."

Aggrieved by the High Court order, the petitioners approached the Supreme Court.

Appearance: Senior Advocates Gopal Shankarnarayanan and Shailesh Madiyal (for petitioners)

Case Title: CHENNAI FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION Versus TAMILNADU FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AND ORS., Diary No. 36957-2025 (and connected case)

Click Here To Read/Download Order