Lok Sabha Question No. 5807 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Complaints of Sexual Harassment in SAI and NSFs
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh, Shri Adhikari Deepak Dev

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5807 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

Complaints of Sexual Harassment in SAI and NSFs

## 5807.     SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK DEV: SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  total  number  of  complaints  regarding  sexual harassment  received  against  officials,  coaches  and  support  staff associated  with  the  Ministry,  the  Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI), affiliated National Sports Federations (NSFs), SAI Centres and other sports  institution  during  the  last  ten  years  and  the  current  year, year, State/UT and discipline-wise;
- (b)  the  details  of  Internal  Complaints  Committees  or  other  inquiry bodies constituted to investigate these cases, including the number of  cases  where  a  formal  inquiry  was  completed  and  the  specific nature of action/punishments taken against those found guilty (e.g., termination, suspension, or minor penalty);
- (c) the total number of appeals filed by either the complainant or the accused  against  the  decisions/recommendations  of  the  inquiry committees, along with the current status of such appeals;
- (d)  the  details  of  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  on these complaints; and
- (e) whether the Government has a centralised tracking mechanism to monitor the progress of such cases across different States and sports  bodies,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]

(a)  to  (e):  National  Sports  Federations (NSFs) are voluntary bodies registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 / Trusts Act / Companies  Act.  They  are  governed  by  their  own  constitution  and have  their  own  mechanism  to  redress  the  grievances/  complaints filed  with  them  by  sportspersons.  The  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  & Sports had issued detailed instructions on 12.08.2010 to all NSFs for taking  necessary  action  for  compliance  with  the  guidelines  laid down by Hon'ble Supre me Court in the case of Vishakha and Others vs State of Rajasthan and Others.

Pursuant to the enactment of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) (POSH) Act, 2013, the provisions of the POSH Act 2013 are applicable to all NSFs and the respective NSFs recognized by the Ministry have duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). The Ministry has also  issued  instructions  to  all  NSFs  from  time-to-time  on  the prevention of sexual harassment in sports.   The  Ministry  does  not maintain data about complaints of sexual harassment filed by the sportspersons with the concerned sports bodies.

The Ministry as well as the various organisations under this Ministry have also established Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), which ensure that all employees/trainees/athletes at these locations have access to a mechanism for addressing complaints related to sexual harassment.  No  complaints  in  this  regard  have  been  filed  in  the Ministry  with  respect  to  its  officials  during  the  last  ten  years  and the current year.

With respect to Sports Authority of India (SAI), eight (08) complaints have  been  filed  against  administrative  staff  and  twenty-five  (25) complaints have been filed against coaches since 2016. Out of the said  08  cases,  02  cases  are  currently  pending.  For  administrative staff,  one  (01)  case  penalty  was  Permanent  withholding  of  full gratuity as per Rule 9 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972, while remaining cases  were  closed  without  penalty.  For  Coaches,  based  on  the findings,  actions  taken  include  six(06)  suspensions,  six(06)  minor

penalties, and two (2) terminations. Further, no appeal was filed for administrative staff. However, for Coaches, eight (08) appeals have the been filed by the complainant or the accused against decisions/recommendations of the inquiry committees. The SHe-Box portal, introduced by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, has been implemented and is currently operational in SAI. Any aggrieved person may lodge a complaint through the said

online portal.

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