XtraTime Web Desk: In a major setback to Dibyendu Barua and his followers, the Madras High Court passed an Ad Interim Injunction against the so called Extra Ordinary General Body Meeting of All India Chess Federation held on 22nd April 2020. All the decisions taken in the meeting were declared null and void. With this order, the confusion regarding the status within the Federation and the so-called Bengal Ad Hoc Committee have been laid to rest.
It may be recalled that a few loyal supporters of Bharat Singh Chauhan decided to call an Online Meeting of AICF on 22nd April 2020 and tried to plant supporters of Dibyendu Barua in power through backdoor after losing the much-publicized elections of BCA which was held under the supervision of Calcutta High Court. An Ad Hoc Committee of BCA was formed comprising 5 members who had participated and lost in the elections.
The All India Chess Federation has maintained that online meetings are neither allowed by the bye laws of AICF nor by the Tamil Nadu Societies Act under which AICF is registered. Moreover, the decisions taken were out of frustration and with the intention of sabotaging the upcoming elections of AICF.
In a strong remark, the judge observed that Bharat Singh Chauhan “appears to have pushed his personal agenda of taking over the administration and control of the Federation”. Borrowing a terminology from chess, the Hon’ble Judge mentioned that the purported meeting on 22.04.2020 “appears to be a double attack it not only disturbs the electoral body but also the constitution of the Committee which existed on the date when this Court had directed the holding of the election.”
In a 34-page order, Honourable Justice PT Asha concluded that “…the calling of the meeting, conduct of the meeting and the resolutions passed are contrary to the Bye-Laws and the Act …. Therefore, there shall be an ad interim injunction as prayed for until further orders.”
Bengal Chess Association is likely to initiate a strong disciplinary proceeding against the members who tried to spread confusion and damage among the stakeholders of chess in West Bengal.