Frame norms for sports federations: High Court

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30

Dubbing as unfortunate the absence of Centre’s control over national sports federations, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has told the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare to frame regulations.

For the purpose, Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik has set a six-month deadline.

The ruling came during the hearing of three petitions by Prabhjot Kaur Bajwa and others against the Centre and other respondents.

As the case about multiple sports events organised under the same title by different factions came up for resumed hearing, the Centre’s counsel submitted that the ministry was providing “huge” financial assistance to recognised national sports federations, but it did not have control over the day-to-day affairs of all federations.

Justice Malik said the ministry was not only duty- bound but also under legal obligation to see whether the federations was being run properly.

“It is high time the ministry comes forward to take immediate remedial measures,”he said.

“Let the appropriate regulations/guidelines be framed at an early date, putting in place an effective mechanism, which must be made binding on all federations receiving financial assistance from the ministry. Admittedly, it is public money and every penny thereof must be spent diligently and should also be subject to periodical audit.”