Madras HC order puts AICF’s Raja under check

By Venkatachari Jagannathan Chennai, Oct 3 : In a major setback for P.R.Venketrama Raja, President All India Chess Federation (AICF) and his faction, the Madras High Court has clarified the electoral college that existed in February this year is no more valid, said an advocate of the rival faction.
He also said the AICF is to be managed by its general body and there are no office bearers as on date as their three-year tenure had come to an end in June itself.
“The Madras High Court on September 28 had said there is no need for any clarification on its order dated 18.2.2020. The court said the issue of forming new electoral college was not a matter that was raised in that case. So, there is no bar for AICF to have new electoral college,” said Sanjay Chadha, advocate for AICF Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.
Chadha said his client has the support of 22 out of the 33 state chess federations affiliated to AICF.
The AICF is split into two factions – one headed by Raja and the other by Chauhan.
Raja had approached the court for a clarification on the orders issued on 18.2.2020.