Patna High Court Issues Interim Order Halting Controversial ANFA Decision Against Three Star Club

Kathmandu. The Patan High Court has issued an interim order to halt the implementation of the controversial decision made by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). A joint bench comprising Chief Justice Lalbabu Kunwar and Justice Gopalprasad Bastola issued the interim order against ANFA's decision to suspend the voting rights and participation of the Three Star Club.

The court determined that ANFA's recent decision was not appropriate from the perspective of 'convenience and balance'. The order stated, "Interim order is hereby issued in the name of the respondents as per Rule 42 of the High Court Regulations, 2073, directing not to implement the decision made by the respondent All Nepal Football Association dated 2082/11/29, specifically decision number 1 (a), regarding not upholding the objection to the voting rights representative and not allowing the petitioner to participate in the voting." With this order, the path is now open for the Three Star Club to participate in ANFA's elections or voting process.

The court issued the interim order in favor of the Three Star Club while hearing the writ petition filed by Dharma Raj Shakya, the General Secretary of the Three Star Club, naming the Government of Nepal (Ministry of Youth and Sports), ANFA, the National Sports Council, and the Armed Police Force (APF) Football Club as respondents.

Previously, the court had already overturned the decisions made by the Disciplinary Committee on 2080 Poush 15 and the Appeals Committee regarding point changes on 2082 Ashar 4 concerning the Three Star Club. However, ANFA, through its meeting on 2082 Falgun 29 (Decision No. 1 a), had decided not to uphold the objection regarding the voting rights and representatives of the Three Star Club and not to allow its participation in the voting.