Justice (retd.) Gita Mittal, the administrator appointed by the
In a report submitted on September 14, following the ratification of a new Constitution at an Extraordinary General Meeting on July 26, Justice Mittal emphasized that this inclusion is essential to her mandate of supervising the association's financial affairs. She noted that the AITA had previously assigned its functions, properties, and income to the AITA Trust, creating a complex administrative structure that requires judicial oversight.
Financial Transparency and Governance Concerns
The administrator reported that attempts to access AITA’s financial records have been met with resistance. She highlighted a letter dated June 30 from Anil Dhupar, the secretary of the AITA Trust, which asserted that the Trust operates as an independent entity and that the request for records fell outside the scope of the Court’s mandate. Justice Mittal’s report suggests that the transfer of responsibilities from the non-profit AITA to the Trust has led to significant conflicts of interest.
A central point of contention involves a rental income dispute worth nearly ₹40 crore related to office spaces at the R.K. Khanna Stadium. Justice Mittal indicated that this dispute points toward the potential misappropriation of land and funds, which she stated were intended for the development of the sport but may have been diverted to private interests under the guise of a Trust. The DLTA, which has been under the leadership of Rohit Rajpal for nearly ten years, is deeply involved in these administrative overlaps.
Election Timeline and Future Oversight
Rohit Rajpal, who serves as India’s Davis Cup captain and is a vice-president at the AITA, previously held the position of treasurer for the AITA Trust before resigning on June 13, 2026. With Rajpal now a candidate for the AITA presidency, he is expected to face competition from tennis legend Leander Paes. While the initial goal was to conduct fresh elections under the new Constitution by September 30, the interim committee has requested an extension.
The broader implications of this administrative transition remain a focus for international observers. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) typically discourages the long-term management of national associations by ad-hoc committees, though the organization has not yet provided comment on the current situation. The Delhi High Court is set to resume hearings on the matter on September 25.
