HC order to stop funds will affect NSFS, athletes
NEW DELHI: In a decision that could disrupt sporting activities in a Commonwealth Games year, the Delhi high court on Friday directed the Union government to stop financial grants to National Sports Federations (NSFS) that are yet to comply with the Sports Code, 2011. It ordered that NSFS should be put on notice of suspension, if found non-compliant.
“No money will go henceforth to any entity which does not comply with the Sports Code. That is the long and short of it. What is suffering is the rule of law,” a bench of justices Najmi Waziri and Vikas Mahajan said, on a plea by senior advocate Rahul Mehra.
Noting that there has been non-compliance of its earlier orders, the high court had summoned the joint secretary, Ministry of Sports on Thursday.
It said that compliance shall be done by the end of June and in the meantime, assistance to sportspersons through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) would be ensured.
The official informed the
court that 15 NSFS were adhering with the Sports Code, while six were granted the exemption. Five NSFS needed to amend their constitutions and 17 required major changes, he added.
The NSFS depend on government grants for the majority of their activities; from sending teams for international competitions, foreign exposure tours, hosting national camps and domestic competitions and even paying salaries of coaches would stop. Even sending athletes entries to the respective sport’s international bodies for a tournament is routed through the national federations.
With no government grants coming their way, the NSFS won’t be able to claim funds under Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions. In a year of the Commonwealth Games, multiple World Cups and World Championships across sports, it could impact athletes’ preparations.
“It will definitely have a major impact on the foreign exposure tours in an important year such as this. There will also be issues in paying the coaches’ salaries and holding national camps,” said an official of the National Rifle Association of India.
The SAI can take over the functions for the time being as it has done for de-recognised federations in the past but to have so many NSFS under their umbrella would be a cumbersome. The court said the federations would be eligible for grants only when they follow all the provisions of Sports Code and get their recognition back.
“Be it holding national tournaments or camps or sending our archers on exposure tours, the government grants come in handy,” said an official of Archery Association of India.