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India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC reserves order on All India Pickleball Association's recognition dispute
New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its decision on a petition filed by the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), challenging the Union Sports Ministry's recognition of another entity, the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA). Justice Sachin Datta reserved his order after hearing arguments from all relevant parties. During the hearing, the Union government's counsel argued that there is no enforceable legal right mandating AIPA's recognition, emphasising that the Sports Code does not require a formal hearing. The counsel further stated, 'After analysis, we found that on several parameters, the candidature of the respondent (IPA) was compliant, whereas the petitioner (AIPA) was not.' Additionally, the government pointed out that pickleball still lacks an internationally recognised governing body, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has yet to acknowledge one. AIPA, in its arguments, urged the court to review the records, asserting that the IPA does not meet the necessary qualifications. In its petition, AIPA, which has been active since 2008 in promoting and developing pickleball in India, contends that the government's recognition of a newly formed organization--only 138 days old--violates the Sports Code. 'The IPA is attempting to fraudulently assume the role of a national sports federation for pickleball despite making no meaningful contribution to the sport's development in India,' AIPA argued in its petition. AIPA also accused the ministry of arbitrariness and lack of transparency, stating, 'The ministry has neither provided a rationale for granting recognition to the IPA nor any supporting material to justify its decision. Moreover, it has failed to offer reasons for rejecting our application.' Adding to the complexities of the case, the Government of India recently informed the Court of another intervening entity--the New Indian Pickleball Association (NIPA), also known as the Indian Pickleball Association. Based in Bangalore and established in 2021, NIPA had formally merged with AIPA last year. It is now challenging the legitimacy of the newly recognised IPA, accusing it of unauthorised use of its name, credentials, and legacy. AIPA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of pickleball in India, asserting that any attempt to bypass due process or disrupt the sport's governance should be subjected to thorough legal scrutiny. Expressing faith in the Indian judiciary, AIPA affirmed its belief that the rule of law will ensure fairness and proper governance in pickleball. The association upholds the values of fair play, sportsmanship, and ethical sports administration and urges the ministry to reconsider and rectify its decision in the broader interest of pickleball and the Indian sporting community. (ANI)
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Delhi high court has asked Sports Ministry to...": AIPA president Arvind on granting of NSF status to Indian Pickleball Association
New Delhi [India] May 15 (ANI): President All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), Arvind Prabhoo, highlighted that the Delhi High Court has instructed Ministry of Youth and Sports to provide a written explanation justifying the status of National Sports Federation (NSF) to the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA). AIPA strongly opposed the Sports Ministry's decision to grant National Sports Federation (NSF) status to the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), as communicated in a letter dated April 25, as per the AIPA press release. AIPA believed this action appeared to have been influenced by undue lobbying and misleading representations made by the newly formed entity. Granting NSF status to an organisation formed in November 2024 -- bypassing AIPA's 18 years of contribution. While talking to the ANI Arvind Prabhoo President AIPA said,' We challenged it in the court and the honourable court has directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to furnish under an affidavit the justification for giving relaxation you know they have offered relaxation to this Indian Pickleball Association so the court has asked justification of that. And that is what we are hearing on the 19th, that is coming Monday.' AIPA last Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the ongoing injustice regarding the sport of Pickleball and its recognition being overlooked for the last 18 years by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). 'We have sent it, we are requesting an opinion from the Honorable PM, PMO to look into this matter because according to us it draws injustice for us and all India Pickleball Association, and we are requesting them to intervene in this matter and get to the bottom of this,' Arvind Prabhoo said. Established in 2007, the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) is the oldest and most widely represented governing body for pickleball in India, with active federations in 24 states. AIPA has played a pivotal role in the structured growth of the sport for nearly two decades and is also a founding member of both the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and the Asian Pickleball Federation (APF), with official affiliations granted in 2015 and 2020, respectively, as per a press release from AIPA. AIPA pointed out that the recognition granted to IPA by the Sports Ministry has been made after relaxing key eligibility conditions outlined in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, including: --- Requirement of a minimum three-year existence: As per Para 3.3 of Annexure-II of the Sports Code 2011, a sports federation must be in existence and functioning for at least three years before it can be considered for recognition as an NSF. The IPA was incorporated in November 2024 and has therefore not met this minimum eligibility. --- Requirement of state-level representation: The Sports Code mandates that a State/UT unit of a federation must be affiliated with at least 50% of the district-level associations in that region to be considered valid. There is no verifiable evidence that IPA or its state units meet this remains committed to the values of fair play, sportsmanship, and clean sports governance and calls upon the Ministry to immediately review and rectify the decision in the larger interest of Pickleball and the Indian sporting community. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi HC seeks response of Centre, BFI on RO issue
New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the response of the Centre and Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on a plea filed by Delhi Amateur Boxing Association (DABA) for appointment of an independent returning officer (RO) to oversee and conduct the elections of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), facing controversy over management and transparency issues. The plea was necessitated after former Delhi high court judge, justice (retd) RK Gauba stepped down as the RO on April 14, attributing his decision to an unhealthy and uncalled for 'smear campaign' allegedly orchestrated by different factions within the federation. Gauba was appointed by BFI's former president Ajay Singh on March 7. In its application argued by senior advocate Abhijat Bal, along with advocates Vidushpat Singhania and Prateek Chadha, DABA argued that there was a need for appointment of an 'independent returning officer', since the erstwhile RO was appointed by Singh, who was himself contesting for the post of President in the forthcoming elections. Though the current term of the BFI's executive committee ended on February 2, no new elections for the office-bearers for the 2025-29 have been held so far. The elections were initially scheduled for March 28, but due to the failure to conduct elections, the federation is currently being managed by a six-member interim committee. This committee was formulated by World Boxing on April 7 and is chaired by Singh. A bench of justice Mini Pushkarna issued notice to BFI, and Union sports ministry and posted the matter for hearing on August 18. BFI was represented by senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, while the union sports ministry was represented by standing counsel Premtosh Kumar Mishra. DABA suggested that the appointment of an independent RO was imperative to uphold the objectives of the Sports Code, ensure conducting and carry forwarding the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner. 'The current state of governance within the BFI, marked by non-compliance with the Sports Code and procedural lapses, underscores the pressing need for oversight to ensure transparency, accountability and uninterrupted progression of the sports,' the petition stated. The application was filed by DABA in its petition challenging BFI's March 7 circular allowing elected members of the state units to participate in the elections. On March 19, justice Mini Pushkarna had allowed DABA to participate in BFI's upcoming elections by staying BFI's March 7 circular till August 18. However, BFI had appealed against the order before the division bench, which is currently pending.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi High Court asks Centre reply after plea seeks official to conduct boxing federation poll
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) sought responses from the Boxing Federation of India and the Centre after a plea sought the appointment of a returning officer to conduct its elections. Justice Mini Pushkarna issued notice to the federation and the Centre on the application filed by Delhi Amateur Boxing Association and posted the matter in August. The application forms part of Delhi Amateur Boxing Association's petition against the federation's decision mandating only elected members of its affiliated State units will be authorised to represent their respective states in the elections. In the application, the petitioner said former returning officer, retired Justice R.K. Gauba, had resigned from the post on April 14. The former president of Boxing Federation of India, who is a contesting candidate, was trying to delay the elections and attempting to appoint a "compliant returning officer", it alleged further. The plea said under the Sports Code, a returning officer was required to be independent and in spite of an order by the Himachal High Court and the observers appointed by the World Boxing Federation and the Centre, the BFI was failing to conduct the elections in an unbiased and a timely manner. On March 19, the court stayed the federation's March 7 decision to allow only elected members of its affiliated state units to represent their respective states in the upcoming elections in the sports body. Delhi Amateur Boxing Association had moved the high court after the final list of electoral college approved by the then returning officer omitted the two names sent by it — Rohit Jainendra Jain and Neeraj Kant Bhatt on the ground that they were "ineligible" on the basis of the March 7 circular. The BFI elections, initially slated for March 28, have been postponed.
