Srinagar: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh came down strongly against government and sports authorities over the non-compliance of Court orders seeking timely response on a public interest litigation that alleges widespread and blatant violations of the National Development Sports Code of India, 2011.
Terming the silence of the concerned stakeholders as deeply troubling, the Court comprising of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal granted last opportunity to the concerned authorities to file their response in a litigation instituted by former badminton players.
The litigation raises serious concerns regarding the alleged hijacking of sports associations by ineligible office bearers, particularly within the J&K Badminton Association, in violation of statutory norms and guidelines issued by the J&K Sports Council.
When the matter came up for hearing, the counsels representing the petitioners submitted that despite repeated directions of the Court, the Chief Secretary, the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Youth Services and Sports, the Badminton Association of India, and the J&K Badminton Association had failed to file their replies.
It was submitted that despite Court last month clearly directed authorities to file the response, yet the directions were taken casually by the respondents.
Pointing to serious violations, the petitioners’ counsel submitted that multiple sports associations in J&K were being run by over-age office bearers, politicians, and serving officials without the required No Objection Certificates, resulting in concentration of power and misuse of sports bodies in breach of the National Sports Code.
The Division Bench took a dim view of the respondents’ inaction, noting that respondent Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5 had failed to file replies despite repeated opportunities.
Terming the approach as casual and non-appreciable in a matter of public interest, the Court granted a final chance to file responses and listed the case for December 30, 2025.
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