Officials should have fixed tenure: HC

Taking a serious note of the ‘monopoly’ of certain sports administrators in the country,the Delhi High Court has suggested that there should be a fixed tenure for the office bearers of all national sporting bodies.

“If such a tenure clause was not enforced,the office-bearer could be repeatedly elected from a particular region and continue to dominate the affairs of the association after having created a monopoly over the sports,” Justice Geeta Mittal has said in her judgement on a petition challenging the continuation of erstwhile IHF chief KPS Gill.

The court said the absence of a restriction on tenure of office bearers of sporting bodies could result in diversion of funds and foul practices in the selection of players and development of the game.

“National Sports Federations would then not remain representative of the hope and aspirations of the sports persons of the entire nation,” the court said. “A limited office tenure,certainly would have the impact of minimising,if not eliminating,allegations,criticism and elements of nepotism,favouritism and bias of any kind,“ the court added.