NEW DELHI: Days after the Union Sports Ministry granted recognition to 41 National Sports Federations (NSFs), sports lawyer Rahul Mehra has approached Delhi High Court to quash those decisions arguing that the National Sports Development Code (2011) has been violated, reports New Indian Express.
Mehra, who has been vocal about non-compliance of the Sports Code by NSFs, has challenged the decision of the ministry to grant recognition, calling it ‘arbitrary’.
Through his petition, Mehra pointed out that the respondent “has erred in not initiating appropriate action against NSFs despite knowing/possessing material that disclose that the NSFs have been and are in violation of the Sports Code,” NIE further reports.
Mehra urged the court to direct the ministry to “grant recognition to entities only after duly material demonstrating such entities as being in compliance with the Sports Code and issue notices, hear and take action forthwith against entities that were granted recognition till 31.12.2019 despite being in violation of the Sports Code, including proceedings for recovery of funds provided to such entities in violation of the Sports Code.”
Pointing out that none of the federations adhere to the Sports Code in letter and spirit, Mehra requested the court to direct the ministry to derecognise all non-compliant federations. According to the petition, all 57 NSFs recognised by the ministry in May and June were in likely violation of the Sports Code, the daily reports.
