Lok Sabha Question No. 171 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-27
Subject: National Sports Federations
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: LAXMAN GILUWA, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 171 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2017

## National Sports Federations

†*171. SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA:

SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (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, NSFwise;
- (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  While  recognition  of  Archery  Association  of  India  was withdrawn,  annual  recognition  of  All  India  Tennis  Association  and Judo Federation of India has been withheld.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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