Delhi HC gives exit route to chess federation treasurer Dharmendra Kumar

The Delhi High Court on Monday (September 21) seems to have given an exit route to the Treasurer of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and Secretary of the All Bihar Chess Association (ABCA), Dharmendra Kumar, instead of giving him a marching order as it had done earlier in the case of another official.

In a case filed by former national chess player Arvind Kumar Sinha, the High Court, in its order on September 21, said: “At the request of Mr. Rakesh Tiku, learned Senior Counsel representing Respondent No. 5, list on 23.09.2026 to enable him to seek instructions whether Respondent No. 5 will demit the office of Secretary of All Bihar Chess Association and the Treasurer of All India Chess Federation."

Did Kumar violate sports code?

Respondent No. 5 in this case is Kumar, and whether he would continue to hold office or put in his papers is the question being debated in the Indian chess community for the past two days.

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The core issue in the case is whether Kumar violated the National Sports Development Code while contesting the AICF elections and getting elected as Treasurer.

The case has also brought out the existence of controversy/disputes between the AICF President and the Secretary.

In its order dated July 18, 2025, the Delhi High Court had said: “Having regard to the contents of the application and also finding during the course of hearing today of this matter that some controversy/disputes have arisen between the Secretary and the President of All India Chess Federation, we direct the petitioner to implead the President of All India Chess Federation as party respondent no.6.”

Curiously, the case also brought out the tale of two associations with the same name — All Bihar Chess Association (ABCA) — one formed in 1969 and the other formed and registered in 2024.

AICF's public notice

The AICF in May 2025 put out a public notice on its website, which is as follows: “Pursuant to the directions issued by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi vide Order dated 16.05.2025 in the matter of “Arvind Kumar Sinha vs. Dharmendra Kumar”, the All India Chess Federation (“AICF”) hereby informs the General Public that the All Bihar Chess Association (“ABCA”), incorporated/registered in the year 1969, is the genuine body affiliated with the AICF and is solely responsible for managing the sport of chess in the State of Bihar.

“The General Public is hereby cautioned against another entity bearing the same name, i.e., All Bihar Chess Association, which was incorporated/registered in the year 2024 and is falsely portraying itself as an AICF-affiliated body responsible for chess activities in Bihar. This 2024 entity is being operated by imposters who claim to be office bearers of ABCA/AICF.

“The Public is strongly advised not to enter into any legal or financial relationship with the said 2024 body or any individuals claiming to be its office bearers. All stakeholders should verify the credentials of any person or entity claiming to be associated with ABCA (1969) or AICF in the State of Bihar. Any individual claiming to be part of the 2024 entity, or unable to prove affiliation with ABCA (1969) or AICF, should be immediately reported to AICF at: Phone: (+91) 11-23352983 Email: indianchessfed@gmail.com. All India Chess Federation Office Address: #101–102, A Block, First Floor, Naurang House, 21 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi – 110001.”

What Delhi HC said

The Delhi High Court in its order on May 16, 2025, said: “If the submission made on the basis of affidavit filed by respondent no.3/All India Chess Federation, dated 06.05.2025 is correct, the same presents very disturbing facts.

“Let a copy of this affidavit filed by respondent no3/AICF be served upon learned counsel representing the respondent nos.4 and 5 during the course of the day. Response to the said affidavit, if any, shall be filed positively by 19.05.2025.”

It is learnt that Sinha had filed a case against the Indian government seeking cancellation of the registration of AICF on the ground that it had violated the National Sports Development Code.

It is learnt that AICF Treasurer Kumar has been an office bearer of the All Bihar Chess Association since 2014 without the two-year cooling-off period stipulated by the National Sports Development Code.

Speaking to this correspondent on condition of anonymity, a senior player had earlier said: “It will be interesting if the veil is lifted off the two Bihar chess bodies with identical names to see the people running the show there.”

If the persons behind the two associations are the same, then was the All Bihar Chess Association registered in 2024 to beat the National Sports Development Code’s two-year cooling-off period? That is the big question that needs an answer.

Chauhan's case

The Delhi High Court in 2022 had unseated an office bearer of the AICF over an alleged violation of the National Sports Development Code.

In 2022, the court had stayed the election of Bharat Singh Chauhan as Secretary of the AICF a couple of months ahead of the Chess Olympiad to be held near Chennai.

On Chauhan’s appeal, the Supreme Court had reinstated him until August 15, 2022, a few days after the completion of the Olympiad. Later, the Delhi High Court on August 22, 2022, said Chauhan was no longer Secretary of the AICF as he had been permitted to continue as Secretary only up to August 15, 2022.

Meanwhile, Kumar and AICF President Nitin Narang did not respond to the messages sent by this writer.

Incidentally, the International Chess Federation, or FIDE, has shortlisted AICF as one of 10 contestants for its Excellence Award in the Best Federation category.