Raising serious concerns over the continued stranglehold of over-aged, ineligible and politically-connected office bearers on sports bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Wednesday expressed deep anguish over the “casual and non-serious” approach of the government and sports associations in implementing the National Sports Code.
Photo: Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh High Court (Official Website)
Raising serious concerns over the continued stranglehold of over-aged, ineligible and politically-connected office bearers on sports bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Wednesday expressed deep anguish over the “casual and non-serious” approach of the government and sports associations in implementing the National Sports Code.
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal expressed deep anguish over the non-filing of response by the Chief Secretary, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, Youth Services and Sports; the Badminton Association of India and J&K Badminton Association in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting non-implementation of National Development Sports Code of India, 2011 as well as guidelines of J&K Sports Council in various Sports Associations in J&K including J&K Badminton Association as according to the petitioners, some office bearers have hijacked most of the Sports Associations despite their ineligibilities thereby monopolizing the said Associations for their personal gains.
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The PIL filed by former badminton players alleges blatant violation of the National Development Sports Code of India, 2011 and J&K Sports Council guidelines, accusing senior office bearers of monopolising sports associations for personal gain despite clear ineligibilities.
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Advocate SS Ahmed with Advocates Supriya Chouhan and M. Zulkarnain Chowdhary appearing for the former Badminton players submitted that the orders of the Division Bench are being taken casually by the Commissioner/Secretary, Youth Services and Sports; the Badminton Association of India and J&K Badminton Association as despite the conditional order passed by the Division Bench on November 10, 2025 wherein the Division Bench had categorically observed that in the event of default in filing the response, the right to file response shall stand forfeited.
Advocate SS Ahmed further submitted that there is complete mess in the Sports Associations in J&K, as most of the office bearers have crossed the age of 70 years and some of the office bearers are politicians and in some cases, the office bearers are government officers and have not obtained NOC from the government of J&K.
After considering the submissions of Advocate SS Ahmed, the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Arun Palli expressed deep anguish over the non-serious approach of the respondents and observed, “Despite repeated opportunities, the respondents have failed to submit response.”
At this stage, Deputy Advocate General, Dewakar Sharma, caused the appearance on behalf of the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government of J&K, Youth Services and Sports, and prayed for a short adjournment to submit response.
Advocate Ajay Sharma, vice Advocate Ankush Manhas, sought time on behalf of the J&K Badminton Association, whereas Advocate Amjad Maqbool, appearing through virtual mode, sought time to file a response on behalf of the Badminton Association of India.
The Division Bench, after expressing their displeasure, reluctantly granted the last opportunity to the appearing advocates for the respondents to file a response by or before the next date of hearing, failing which the Division Bench directed that appropriate orders shall follow.
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