Derecognition of NSFs: Ask for four-weeks’ time to reply to Sports Ministry’s questions: IOA to NSFs | More sports News – Times of India

File photo of IOA president Narinder Batra, left, and secretary general Rajeev Mehta (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) suggested that National Sports Federations (NSF) ask for a time of four more weeks to reply to a questionnaire that they have been asked to fill by the Sports Ministry.
The ministry had asked the 57 NSFs, who currently don’t have central recognition, to fill the questionnaire, so that it can respond to petitioner Rahul Mehra‘s argument in the Delhi High Court that none of the NSFs are compliant with the 2011 National Sports Code.
In an internal communication signed by the IOA president Narinder Batra and secretary general Rajeev Mehta on Saturday, the duo said that the ministry has asked for a reply on the questionnaire by August 11.
“This is a sensitive issue and we all need to take a united stand as many issues raised in the questionnaire are not part of the sports code. This is now an ongoing issue in the Delhi High Court and we need to be careful,” the communication read.
“We suggest that immediately all NSFs ask for 4 weeks’ time to reply since most NSFs’ office staff are not on duty due to Covid.
“Meanwhile, the president and secretary general are meeting on Monday, 10th August, to discuss this issue and will seek time to meet with the Hon’ble Minister and Secretary Sports,” it added.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had turned down the petition moved by the Sports Ministry seeking modification of its February 7 order which had barred the Centre and the IOA from taking any decision on NSFs without informing it.
In accordance with the order, the ministry in June had to revoke the provisional recognition it had provided to NSFs on May 11. Among the repercussions of this development was the Sports Authority of India having to take over the responsibility of arranging national camps for different sports.