Ministry issues backdated recognition letters to NSFs

Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya earlier this week in a meeting with the heads of several national sports federations called for greater transparency and accountability from them.

The message it seems is lost on a few of his ministry’s officials, who have been issuing backdated recognition letters to sports federations, including some that are not fully compliant with the sports code. Several federations were issued letters of recognition for the year 2024 earlier this week.

The list of recognised NSFs includes the Yachting Association of India (YAI), which last held its election in 2019 even as the polls have been due since 2022. Incredibly, the ministry was ready to issue the letter to the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) as well. The EFI has been mired in several violations. In fact, the Delhi High Court recently appointed a fact finding committee, which is to submit a report to the court.

The ministry has already issued a recognition letter to the Indian Golf Union (IGU) faction led by Brijendra Singh, even when the matter is in court. The ministry officials, including sports secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, were unavailable for comments.

The acts have raised several eyebrows as a number of federation officials said they do not see the logic behind it. “They issued us last year’s recognition this week. We do not know what to make of it,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.

However, lawyer-cum-activist Rahul Mehra called it a contemptuous and unethical act. The sports ministry had to withdraw recognition of over 50 sports federations over his plea that sought full compliance with the sports code for recognition purposes.

“They have been extending the recognition every year when orders after orders state that there cannot be any concept of partial compliance. They have to be fully compliant but the ministry is a habitual offender and it is issuing orders under the garb that derecognition may hurt the athletes and that the international federations will derecognise the federations,” Mehra told The Tribune on Friday.

“It is illegal, contemptuous and unethical that the ministry has been issuing backdated recognitions to federations. I have filed contempt proceedings against the sports ministry,” he added.