AK Verma becomes the new interim secretary of AICF

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Chennai. In view of the election of office bearers to be held early next year, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) has appointed Ajit Kumar Verma as the interim secretary.

In a letter sent to chess administrators, AICF President Sanjay Kapoor announced the appointment of Verma as interim secretary. Kapoor said Verma has been appointed as interim secretary under the powers vested in him and he will hold the post till the office bearers are elected for 2024-2027. Verma is the secretary of Delhi Chess Association.

The post had become vacant when Vipnesh Bhardwaj turned 70 on November 15.

Kapoor said the AICF secretary has many important responsibilities to perform as elections are round the corner.

Bhardwaj, who was then AICF vice-president, was appointed as the interim secretary on August 23, 2022 as the post fell vacant following the Supreme Court order that Bharat Singh Chouhan – who was declared the winner of the elections in 2021 Was declared, to remain in office only till August 15, 2022 so that the impending Chess Olympiad in Chennai can be conducted smoothly.

Ahead of the apex court’s order on 2.6.2022, the Delhi High Court removed Chauhan from the post of AICF Secretary as his election violated the National Sports Development Code.

Ravindra Dongre, who contested against Chauhan for the post of secretary, had filed a case in the Delhi High Court against his election.

Dongre said that the provisions of the National Sports Code should be followed. The Delhi High Court had removed Chauhan from the post as his election was against the National Sports Code.

The top court had said that Chauhan’s tenure as AICF secretary can be only till August 15, 2022 and the high court will pass a fresh order within four weeks after giving an opportunity to all concerned.

On August 22, 2022, the Delhi High Court reiterated its earlier order removing Chauhan from the post.

Chouhan stood for re-election and as per the National Sports Development Code, an incumbent must secure a two-thirds majority of votes cast for a second consecutive term.

In case of default, the candidate shall be deemed to have lost the election and thereafter the post shall be filled by the normal procedure from amongst candidates other than the incumbent seeking re-election.

A similar situation arose for the post of AICF President in 1985.

International Master Atanu Lahiri had told IANS, “In the 1985 elections in AICF, President Late B. Varma contested re-election. Industrialist Late N. Mahalingam opposed him. Although Varma got more votes, he could not get the two-thirds majority. Couldn’t muster it. Then Mahalingam, the only contestant, became the president.”

Lahiri said that Dongre was the only contestant for the post of secretary in the elections held in 2021.

Dongre had said, “In 1985, two factions contested the elections. Since Verma did not get the two-thirds majority, he walked out. And since there was no other contestant except Mahalingam for the post of president, he joined the AICF Took charge as chief. If there had been anything else there would have been re-election than between the two contestants.”

According to the rules of the AICF, vacancies of office bearers which may arise by resignation, death or otherwise, shall be filled by the President and such nominee shall hold office until the next General Body meeting.

–IANS

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