Non-compliance of Sports Code
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 17: A Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal today expressed its deep anguish/displeasure over the non-filing of response by the Chief Secretary, Commissioner/Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, the Badminton Association of India and J&K Badminton Association in the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Bakhtawar Singh and Others Versus UT of J&K & Others highlighting non-implementation of National Development Sports Code of India, 2011 as well as guidelines of J&K Sports Council in various Sports Associations.
When the PIL came up for hearing Advocate S S Ahmed with Advocates Supriya Chouhan and M Zulkarnain Chowdhary appearing for the former Badminton players/ petitioners 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.
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, no response has been filed, Advocate S S Ahmed further submitted, adding “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 officials and have not obtained NOC from the Government”.
After considering the submissions of Advocate S S Ahmed, the Division Bench expressed its deep anguish/displeasure over the non-serious approach of the respondents.
At this stage, Dy. AG Dewakar Sharma caused appearance on behalf of Commissioner/Secretary, 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 response on behalf of Badminton Association of India.
The Division Bench reluctantly granted last opportunity to the appearing advocates for the respondents to file response by or before the next date of hearing, failing which the Division Bench directed that appropriate orders shall follow.
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