AIFF Under Review Again: Delhi HC Reconstitutes Ethics Panel Over Bias Concerns – Report

Last Updated:April 01, 2026, 8:00 PM IST

Delhi HC appointed retd. Justice Rekha Palli to head AIFF’s Ethics panel, reshaping it amid conflict-of-interest row to ensure impartiality in Churchill Brothers’ complaints.

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey (AIFF Media)

In a significant intervention, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday appointed Justice Rekha Palli as chairperson of the All India Football Federation’s Ethics and Dispute Resolution Committee.

According to News9the decision follows concerns raised by Churchill Brothers, which sought an independent appointment to guarantee “impartial adjudication” in ongoing conflict-of-interest complaints involving Inter Kashi and AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey.

At an earlier hearing on March 30, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav had indicated a preference for appointing a retired judge to oversee the matter.

Panel Reshaped After Conflict Concerns

The current move comes after objections were raised over the composition of the existing ethics committee panel.

Churchill Brothers had opposed RK Pachnanda continuing as chairperson, citing his earlier role as AIFF integrity officer. The court subsequently directed him to recuse himself.

Further complications arose when advocate Sudarshan Agarwal resigned following allegations of a “direct” conflict of interest due to his previous role as counsel for Chaubey.

These developments reduced the committee’s strength below the quorum required to conduct hearings, prompting AIFF to appoint two new members.

However, those appointments were soon challenged by Churchill Brothers.

Appointments Set Aside

In a letter, Churchill CEO Valanka Alemao argued that the appointments violated the AIFF constitution, due to no eligibility report having been circulated among EC members.

The court accepted this contention and set aside the appointments.

To restore quorum and ensure balance, the court also appointed senior advocate Akshay Makhija as a third member of the panel.

‘No Third-Party Interference’

The AIFF had reportedly opposed the court’s intervention, warning it could be construed as “third-party interference” and potentially invite sanctions from FIFA.

However, Justice Kaurav dismissed those concerns.

“The reconstitution of this committee is purely… for the adjudication of the complaints,” he noted, adding that it does not amount to interference but is necessary given the circumstances.

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