The Problem Of Chair-Leaders: PIL In HC Seeks End To Practice Of Bureaucrats, Businessmen Heading Sports Bodies

A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court by SP Muthuraman of Tirunelveli requesting the court to direct the Union Sports Ministry to take immediate and practical steps to implement National Sports Development Code of India-2011 while selecting people to hold positions as office-bearers in recognized sports associations in the country, reports Times of India.

Muthuraman stated that there were violations regarding the appointment/selection of office-bearers while citing examples of associations like the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association and Tamil Nadu Athletic Association, Tamil Nadu Golf Federation and the Athletics Federation of India.

“There is an inherent embargo in the code which prohibits office-bearers above 70 years of age from holding any position,” stated the petitioner.

The Union Sports and Youth Development Ministry along with other authorised bodies had given their approval for such positions in the sports bodies automatically without verifying whether procedures mentioned in the sports code were being followed, added the petitioner.

He also noted that when the sports code was introduced in 2011, its constitutional validity was challenged in the Delhi High Court by the Indian Olympic Association, but the court ordered that the provisions mentioned in the sports code should be implemented in all recognised sports associations under the sports ministry in the country in the year 2014.

A division bench comprising Justices KK Sasidharan and PD Audikesavalu issued notices to the authorities after admitting the petition.