CHANDIGARH / NEW DELHI — Former international players Somdev Devvarman (Arjuna & Padma Shri Awardee) and Purav Raja (Davis Cupper) have filed Right to Information (RTI) applications across every state tennis association affiliated with the All India Tennis Association (AITA). The applications were filed through sports lawyer Prasang Raheja, who represents both players.
Why This Matters
State associations form the foundation on which AITA is built. Because they operate on public sports infrastructure and receive government support, Devvarman and Raja argue they carry a corresponding obligation to function transparently and follow national sports governance rules — a standard the RTI filings are designed to test.
What Information Is Being Asked For (2016–2026)
The applications seek two categories of records, covering a decade-long window from 2016 to 2026:
- Conflict of Interest Filings — certified copies of all declarations and affidavits submitted by state executive members disclosing whether they hold personal or financial stakes in private academies, tournament companies, or vendor businesses.
- Official Meeting Minutes — certified records of all official meetings where commercial decisions, potential conflicts of interest, or deals involving executive members were discussed or approved.
The Statement
Devvarman and Raja framed the filings as a foundational step for reform:
“State units are the backbone of Indian tennis. Real reform cannot happen until state associations come clean with their public records and show complete transparency.”
The Bigger Picture
The move builds on the pair’s ongoing Players AITA governance campaign, which has consistently argued that reform at the national level means little without accountability running through the state bodies that actually control tournament allocations, academy ties, and vendor relationships on the ground. With RTI applications now filed across the full state network, attention turns to how — and how quickly — individual associations respond within the Act’s mandated timelines.
Indian Tennis Daily will continue to track responses from AITA’s state affiliates as this story develops.