Question : National Sports Federations

(a) whether any case of alleged violation of prescribed norms relating to age, tenure and election of office bearers in various National Sports Federations (NSFs) in the country have come to the notice of the Government during the last three years and the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon and the outcome thereof, NSF-wise;
(c) whether the Government is aware of any case of alleged mismanagement in various NSFs during the said period and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon, NSF-wise;
(d) the details of guidelines issued/enacted following a Public Interest Litigation on the issue along with the implementation status thereof; and
(e) the outcome of implementation of these guidelines?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR
YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(SHRI VIJAY GOEL)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 171 FOR REPLY ON 27.07.2017 ASKED BY SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA AND SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV REGARDING NATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS.
(a) to (c) Madam, during the last 3 years and the current year a few National Sports Federations (NSFs), viz. Archery Association of India, All India Tennis Association and Judo Federation of India were found to have violated the Government guidelines relating to age & tenure restrictions of office bearers. Government has taken action against such NSFs. While recognition of Archery Association of India was withdrawn, annual recognition of All India Tennis Association and Judo Federation of India has been withheld. Also, annual recognition of Cycle Polo Federation of India and Netball Federation of India has been withheld for not holding the elections on time. Consequently, these NSFs are not eligible to receive financial assistance from various schemes of the Government. All India Tennis Association has since held its elections as per the Government guidelines. Cycle Polo Federation of India and Netball Federation of India have also held their elections.
(d) & (e) After taking into account the circumstances and the views expressed by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court, the prevailing public opinion and with a view to encourage professional management, good governance, transparency, accountability, democratic elections, etc. in NSFs including Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Government, in 2011, issued revised guidelines on age and tenure limits of the office bearers of NSFs and the IOA. As per these guidelines, the Government has, inter-alia, provided the following age and tenure limits in respect of office bearers of the NSFs:
• The President of any recognized National Sports Federation, including the Indian Olympic Association can hold the office for a maximum period of twelve years with or without break.
• The Secretary (or by whatever other designation such as Secretary General or General Secretary by which he is referred to) and the Treasurer of any recognized National Sports
Federation, including the IOA, may serve a maximum of two successive terms of four years each after which a cooling off period of four years will apply to seek fresh election.
• The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer of any recognized National Sports Federation, including the Indian Olympic Association, shall cease to hold that post on attaining the age of 70 years.
Compliance to the guidelines of the Government by the NSFs has been made mandatory to receive government recognition and thereby become eligible to receive financial as well as other forms of assistance from Government of India such as railway concessions, income tax exemption, custom duty exemption, etc. and to derive the authority to perform the public functions of selecting and deputing the national teams for participation in international sports competitions. Barring a few, all NSFs have adopted the revised guidelines of the Government on age & tenure restriction of office bearers of NSFs. No NSF has been given annual recognition by the Government which has not adhered to these guidelines.
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