PIL seeking implementation of Sports Code
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by three former Badminton players of Jammu namely Bakhtawar Singh, Romesh Kumar Sharma and Rishi Khurana seeking implementation of National Development Sports Code of India, 2011 as well as Guidelines of J&K Sports Council in various Sports Associations across UT, Badminton Association of J&K has informed the Division Bench of High Court of J&K and Ladakh that Chander Prakash Sharma (Ganga), former Minister/sitting MLA from Vijaypur, President of Badminton Association of J&K and B S Jamwal, General Secretary have voluntarily tendered their resignations in light of their crossing the age limit prescribed under the Sports Code and their resignations were duly accepted by the Executive Committee of the Badminton Association of J&K in its meeting held on November 9, 2025.
The Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal on December 15th, 2025 had expressed anguish/displeasure over the non-filing of response by the Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Youth Services & Sports, Badminton Association of India and Badminton Association of J&K and had granted last opportunity to submit response to the PIL failing which the Division Bench had observed that appropriate orders shall follow.
In the PIL, the three former State Badminton players have highlighted the complete mess in almost all the Sports Associations in J&K including Badminton Association of J&K alleging that few office bearers are running the Associations over the years despite their ineligibilities having crossed 70 years of age as stipulated in Sports Code, 2011 and the individuals/office bearers have damaged the Sports Movement in J&K for their vested interests and the casualty is the sportspersons and sports lovers.
The last elections of Badminton Association of J&K were held on 06.03.2022 and Prakash Sharma (Ganga) was elected as President, Dr O D Sharma as Chairman and 03 Vice-Chairmen namely Dharamvir Sharma, Mohd Irfan Shah and Dr Satish Chander; Dr Balbir Singh Jamwal, General Secretary, Fayaz Ahmed and Rahul Sharma Joint Secretary), Treasurer Dushyant Sharma, Chairman, Planning & Development-N.R. Gupta, Advisor-Subash Sharma.
The petitioners have further divulged in the PIL that out of these office bearers, the Chairman of the Association Dr O D Sharma, Vice Chairman Dr Satish Chander, General Secretary Balbir Singh Jamwal, Chairman-Planning & Development N R Gupta have crossed the age of 70 years and as per Sports Code, 2011, these office bearers after attaining the age of 70 years cannot continue as office bearers of the Badminton Association of J&K.
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