Delhi High Court: Sports Ministry Not Expected To Act As Mere ‘Rubber Stamp’ & Grant NSF Recognition To Entity Handpicked By International Federation

The Delhi High Court observed that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) is not expected to act as mere ‘rubber stamp’ and grant National Sports Federation (NSF) recognition to entity handpicked by the International Federation.

A Writ Petition was filed by Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI), assailing a communication or letter issued by the MYAS by which India Taekwondo was granted recognition as NSF.

A Single Bench of Justice Sachin Datta held, “Clearly, recognition of an NSF cannot be at the dictates/whims/directives of any International Federation. The MYAS is not expected to act as a mere ‘rubber stamp’ and grant recognition to whichever body / entity is handpicked by the International Federation (irrespective of antecedents/track record/conflict of interest issues afflicting such body).”

The Bench said that the provisions of the Sports Code leave no manner of doubt that any suspension or “non-renewal” or withdrawal of recognition inter alia on the ground of non-recognition by the International Federation/Asian Body, must be predicated on adherence to procedural safeguards.

Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra represented the Petitioner, while Senior Advocate Darpan Wadhwa, SPC Udit Dedhiya, and Advocate Sanjeev Mahajan represented the Respondents.

Facts of the Case

The Petitioner was aggrieved by the impugned communication/letter issued by the Respondent-MYAS inasmuch as the same seeks to confer the status of an NSF upon the India Taekwondo, despite the Petitioner already being a recognized NSF for the concerned sport. It was submitted that such recognition was conferred upon the Petitioner by the MYAS vide a letter. It was further the case that the impugned communication was issued by the MYAS without being preceded by either an order of suspension or withdrawal of recognition of the Petitioner as an NSF and/or a show-cause notice (SCN) seeking to put the Petitioner to notice as to any circumstance which may warrant suspension or withdrawal of recognition.

The background of the case was that owing to factional disputes within the Petitioner federation, several Petitions were filed before the High Court, seeking directions for fresh elections of the Petitioner and safeguarding the interest of players of Taekwondo in India. The concerned International Federation viz. World Taekwondo issued a communication purporting to recognise India Taekwondo as the sole national governing body for the Taekwondo sport in India and withdrew the recognition accorded to the Petitioner. This was under challenge before the High Court.

Reasoning

The High Court after hearing the contentions of the counsel, noted, “… there is a serious controversy surrounding the manner in which the respondent no.3 was incorporated and / or came to be accorded recognition by the International Body. It is alleged that the respondent no.3 was incorporated at the behest of certain person/s who were part of the ad-hoc Committee constituted by the IOA vide order dated 12.07.2019 to administer the sport of Taekwondo in the Country.”

The Court remarked that the impugned order is merely predicated on the fact that the India Taekwondo enjoys the recognition of the International Federation and Asian Body.

“The Union of India is directed to reconsider the matter as regards recognition of a suitable body to act as the NSF for the sport of Taekwondo in the country, after affording an opportunity of hearing all the stakeholders including the petitioner and the respondent no.3 and thereafter take an appropriate decision by issuing a reasoned order, in consonance with the Sports Code and good governance practices. Let the same be done expeditiously”, it directed.

The Court, therefore, concluded that till such exercise is completed, the Petitioner shall continue to act as the NSF in respect of the sport of Taekwondo in India.

Accordingly, the High Court disposed of the Writ Petition and set aside the impugned order.

Cause Title- Taekwondo Federation of India v. Union of India and Ors. (Neutral Citation: 2025:DHC:10148)

Appearance:

Petitioner: Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, Advocates Saurabh Jain, Chaitanya Gosain, Prayag Jain, Shahid Ali, Mohd. Salman, and Sameer Tayyeb.

Respondents: Senior Advocate Darpan Wadhwa, SPC Udit Dedhiya, GP Vidhi, Advocates Sanjeev Mahajan, Apurva Sachdev, Preyansh Gupta, Vikash Singh, Ujjwal Chaudhary, Parth Goswami, R.A. Iyer, and Ayush Yadav.

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