Delhi High Court Tells National Sports Federations to Follow Sports Code
Sports Code seeks to make national federations more accountable and transparent in their workings but has faced opposition from several office bearers.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: May 09, 2014 05:32 PM IST
The Delhi High Court on Friday directed all National Sports Federations (NSFs) in the country to follow the Sports Code. The Sports Code was passed by the central government in 2011 and, primarily, seeks to put restrictions on the age and tenure of office bearers.
While several officials and federations in the country have either challenged the Sports Code or expressed reservations against it, the Delhi High Court's directive comes as a boost for the Sports Ministry as it has sought to make NSFs more accountable and transparent in their workings through the bill. The ministry has repeatedly outlined that recognition to any NSF would rely on the current legal status of the organisation, recognition by the International Federation, the Asian Federation and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in respect of Olympic sports.
Also part of the ministry's criteria is the NSF's undisputed status as an apex body in India, its role and contribution in promoting and developing sports in India, conduct of national championships across age groups and gender, financial and managerial accountability and fair, transparent and democratic elections.
The ministry - first under Ajay Maken and then Jitendra Singh - had directed sports federations to have elections as per the new guidelines and had even derecognised the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation and the Archery Association of India for flouting these guidelines.
In fact, the IOA had challenged the central government's authority and had said that only state governments can legislate on sports. The latest directive from the High Court though would come as a jolt to their opposition.