There is no confidence left in sports bodies in India: Delhi High Court
Delhi High Court has said sports bodies are in a mess as persons unconnected with the game are running the show.
A number of sports bodies in the country are in a "mess" and are being run mostly by people unconnected to the game leading to loss of confidence of common public in them, the Delhi High Court on Thursday said. "Please set the house in order. I have been hearing so many cases on regular basis. There is no confidence left in the sports bodies," Justice Manmohan said.
"They are in a mess because persons unconnected with the game are running the show," he said.
The court was hearing a petition relating to affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Punjab Wrestling Association and Chhattisgarh Kushti Sangh.
"It cannot be the case that the persons who have never played the game will be holding posts in sports bodies. At least, a person who has played the game at the state level should be appointed president and vice-president of such bodies," the court said.
The bench also said it may refer certain issues, which have been dealt in the National Sports Code, to the Law Commission for its suggestions so that sports bodies can be represented by sports persons. On being alleged that educated persons and corporates can handle issues concerning sports bodies effectively, the bench said, "Yes, some provision of minimum qualification can be made for enabling sports persons for becoming administrators."
The court meanwhile issued notices to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Wrestling Federation of India and its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on a plea filed by Punjab-based former wrestler Kartar Singh.
The petition, filed through lawyer Ravi Prakash Gupta, has sought quashing of a resolution passed on April 23, 2013 by WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh approving the expulsion of former wrestler Singh for six years from WFI and all other affiliated units. "Singh has won two Gold and one Silver Medal in the Asian Games and one Gold, one Silver and one Bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games and has been conferred Padma Shri, Arjuna and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards, President Police Medal-2002 and Life Time Achievement Award 2010," the petition said.
On the contrary, WFI president has around 40 criminal cases against him, Singh alleged in the plea.