Section 10 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025
- (1)The Board may, either on its own motion, or on the receipt of a complaint by an aggrieved party, by order, suspend or cancel the Board recognition of a sports organisation as a National Sports Body or registration of an affiliate unit of a National Sports Body, in any of the following circumstances, namely:---
- (a)the international recognition of the concerned National Sports Body has been suspended or cancelled by the concerned International Sports Body;
- (b)the concerned affiliate unit has been suspended or disaffiliated by the concerned National Sports Body;
- (c)the National Sports Body has violated any of the provisions of this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder, including eligibility criteria or terms and conditions of the Board recognition;
- (d)the Registrar of Companies or the Registrar of Societies of the concerned sports organisation has reported gross irregularities in the internal functioning or removed the name of the National Sports Body or its affiliate units;
- (e)the National Sports Body or the affiliate unit has---
- (i)failed to hold elections for its Executive Committee or has committed gross irregularities in the election procedures thereof; or
- (ii)failed to publish its annual audited accounts; or
- (iii)has misused, misapplied or misappropriated any public funds: Provided that the suspension or disaffiliation referred to in clause (a) and clause (b) shall be co-terminus with the suspension or disaffiliation by the concerned International Sports Body or the National Sports Body, as the case may be, which may be extended by the Board, for reasons to be recorded in writing, for such further period as the Board may consider necessary.
- (2)Before issuing an order of suspension or cancellation of Board recognition or registration under sub-section (1), the Board shall consult the concerned---
- (a)International Sports Body, where such suspension or cancellation of Board recognition concerns the National Sports Federation or the Regional Sports Federation;
- (b)National Sports Federation or the Regional Sports Federation, where such suspension or cancellation of registration concerns any affiliate unit, and upon such consultation, take any of the following measures, namely:---
- (i)issue an order, directing the National Sports Body or its affiliate unit, to take such action as is appropriate to correct the deficiency and upon compliance, the Board may make a finding of compliance; or
- (ii)conduct a hearing by giving reasonable opportunity to the parties to present their case before pronouncing its decision.
- (3)An appeal against any order of the Board for suspension or cancellation of Board recognition or registration under this section shall lie with the Tribunal.
Summary
- The Board can suspend or cancel the recognition of a sports body or its local branches for several major failures, such as violating the law, failing to hold elections, hiding audited accounts, or misusing public funds.
- If an international sports organization suspends an Indian national body, the Board will also suspend the Indian body for the same length of time, though the Board can choose to extend it.
- Before canceling or suspending recognition, the Board must consult with the relevant international or national parent organization.
- After consulting, the Board can either give the sports body a chance to fix its mistakes or hold a formal hearing to listen to all sides before making a final decision.
- Any sports body that has its recognition suspended or cancelled can appeal the decision to the National Sports Tribunal.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Can a sports body lose its recognition simply for not publishing its financial accounts?
Yes, failing to publish annual audited accounts is one of the specific reasons the Board can suspend or cancel recognition.
2. Does the Board have to warn a sports body before suspending it?
The Board must consult the higher parent organization and can choose to issue a correction order first, or it must hold a hearing giving the sports body a reasonable opportunity to present its case.
3. If my sports federation's recognition is cancelled, is that the final word?
No, you have the right to file an appeal against the Board's decision with the National Sports Tribunal.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 10 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, which of the following actions constitutes grounds for the Board to suspend or cancel a National Sports Body's recognition?
Q2.Under Section 10 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, what is the mandatory relationship between a suspension by an International Sports Body and a suspension by the Board?
Q3.Under Section 10 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, what procedural step must the Board complete before issuing a suspension order against a Regional Sports Federation?
Q4.Under Section 10 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, instead of proceeding directly to a hearing for suspension, what alternative remedial action can the Board take after consulting the relevant authorities?