New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday observed that sports associations in India are struggling entities, lacking the essence of sportsmanship.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh made this strong remark while hearing a plea filed by the Maharashtra Wrestling Association.
"All these sports associations, there is nothing like sports in them. All are 'ailing bodies', we do not know they are grappling for what," the Court noted during the proceedings.
The observation comes amid multiple legal disputes concerning the governance of various sports bodies, currently pending before both High Courts and the Supreme Court.
The Maharashtra Wrestling Association had approached the apex court, challenging a Bombay High Court order that dismissed its petition against its de-affiliation by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The High Court had ruled the plea as non-maintainable, granting the association liberty to seek recourse before the appropriate forum.
On January 15, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Union of India and other respondents in the case. However, during Monday’s hearing, the matter was adjourned as no counsel appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
Meanwhile, the respondents’ counsel pointed out that the petitioner had directly moved the Supreme Court without exhausting appellate remedies in the High Court.
UNI SNG CS