The High Court of Delhi has decided on a case involving the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of Ernakulam and the National Council YMCAs of India. After the unexpected death of a presidential nominee, the court has ruled that new nominations will be accepted for all major positions, with elections set for April 25, 2026.
On February 26, 2026, Justice Mini Pushkarna made a decision about the YMCA election process. The issue came up after the only presidential nominee, Mr. R.S. Shettian, passed away on November 21, 2025. This unexpected event led to questions about how to move forward with the election.
Justice Vikramajit Sen, a former Supreme Court judge, was chosen as the Election Observer on November 11, 2025. His job was to watch over the election process and make sure it was done fairly. After Mr. Shettian's death, he told the Nomination Committee to decide what to do next.
On December 3, 2025, the Nomination Committee decided to invite more nominations for all five positions: President, three Vice Presidents, and Treasurer. This decision was made to keep things balanced between different regions and make sure the election was fair.
"The existing Valid Nominations shall remain Valid. It was unanimously felt that it would be appropriate to provide an opportunity to other Member Associations..." — Nomination Committee Resolution
The court agreed with the Nomination Committee's decision, saying that the YMCA rules did not specifically cover what to do if a nominee dies. So, it was considered right to start the nomination process again.
The court gave more time for receiving nominations until March 25, 2026, with elections planned for April 25, 2026. This extra time makes sure they follow the YMCA rules.
The court dismissed the challenges against the new nomination process, confirming that the actions taken were within the committee's rights and did not break the YMCA rules.
