Overview

• A bench led by Justices P. S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi approved the L. N. Rao draft with modifications and directed a special general body meeting to adopt it within four weeks.
• The court recognised the Kalyan Chaubey–led executive committee as valid and allowed it to serve through September 2026 without mid‑term elections.
• The decision removes the immediate threat of FIFA action by placing adoption on track ahead of the October 30 ratification deadline set by FIFA and the AFC.
• Key reforms include a 70‑year age cap, lifetime tenure limits with cooling‑off, a 14‑member executive with player and women’s representation, and a no‑confidence mechanism for removals.
• The constitution makes AIFF the owner‑operator of the top division with mandatory promotion and relegation, while ISL commercial rights must be awarded via a Big Four‑supervised open tender by October 15 to enable the 2025–26 season.