Chennai, The General Body meeting of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) on Tuesday night gave its seal of approval for the appointment of its Vice President Vipnesh Bhardwaj as the interim Secretary, said a chess official.

The notice for the 8.30 p.m. General Body meeting was given on Monday after the Delhi High Court reiterated its earlier decision of removing Bharat Singh Chauhan as AICF Secretary.

Bhardwaj has been appointed as the interim Secretary of AICF following the Delhi High Court order, AICF President Sanjay Kapoor told IANS.

As per the AICF's by-laws, the vacancies of office-bearers that may arise by resignation, death, or otherwise shall be filled by the President and such nominated person shall hold the office till the next General Body meeting.

On June 2, the court had declared the election of Chauhan as null and void as it violated the National Sports Development Code. The petition was filed by his rival contestant R.N. Dongre.

Later, the Supreme Court, citing the impending Chess Olympiad to be held in India, allowed Chauhan to continue as Secretary till August 15.

The apex court said the high court will pass a fresh order after giving opportunities to all concerned within four weeks.

Chauhan stood for re-election and as per the National Sports Development Code, an office-bearer for a second successive tenure should secure a majority of not less than two-third of the votes polled.

In case of default, the candidate would be deemed to have lost the elections and the position would thereafter be filled by normal procedure from amongst candidates other than the office-bearer seeking re-election.

"The court had said the vacancy should be filled as per the National Sports Development Code. And as per that, I am the AICF Secretary legally," Dongre told IANS.

However, Chauhan's advocate Sanjay Chadha told IANS that "when the point was raised in the court, it said any claimant for the position of AICF Secretary can approach it".

Chadha said the National Sports Development Code has said that only an elected member of an association - district/state -- can stand for election and Dongre was not a member of any state/district chess association.

Countering that, Dongre said: "Nowhere in the Code there is a mention that only an elected member can stand for election. The Code states that the contestant should be nominated by the state association."

In a letter to all the members of AICF, Dongre has warned of contempt of court action.

"Also, in the light of the Hon'ble Chief Justice's Bench Delhi High Court order dated 22.08.22, it has been reiterated again that after Bharat Singh Chouhan's removal as Secretary AICF and the post of Secretary is to be filled as per National Sports Code which clearly states from among candidates other than the office bearer seeking re-election (here other than seeking is Mr Ravindre Dongre only)," his letter notes.