High Court stays the illegal recognition granted by MYAS to Handball Association India
The Handball Federation of India (HFI) is pleased to inform all stakeholders, players, officials, and the wider sporting community that the Hon’ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, vide its interim order dated 5th September 2023 in CWP No. 19665 of 2023 (Handball Federation of India v. Union of India and Others), stayed the operation of the impugned letter F. No. 31-14/2009-SP-I (Vol. IV) dated 25.07.2023 issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) granting recognition to the so-called Handball Association (India) as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for Handball.
The Hon’ble Court, after hearing extensive arguments, noted grave procedural irregularities and deliberate disregard to ongoing judicial proceedings in the manner in which the Ministry proceeded to grant recognition to Handball Association (India) while the matter was sub judice.
It was brought to the Hon’ble Court’s notice that:
The Handball Federation of India (HFI) was duly registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and subsequently re-registered under the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Societies Act, 2012.
HFI had conducted its elections on 14.08.2022, and their legality was duly recognized.
Certain office bearers of HFI unilaterally and arbitrarily attempted to merge HFI with Handball Association (India) without proper authority, ratification, or resolution from the competent body of HFI.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in SLP (C) No. 14533 of 2022 had appointed Hon’ble Mr. Justice L. Nageswara Rao (Retd.) as a One-Man Committee, whose report recognized Handball Federation of India as the legitimate NSF eligible to participate in IOA elections. This status remains unchallenged in any court of law.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), vide its letter dated 20.04.2023, had clearly stated that the membership issue of Handball would be kept in abeyance and that judicial clarification was necessary before proceeding.
Despite this, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, relying upon misleading representations and without following the principles of natural justice and the eligibility norms prescribed under the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, illegally recognized Handball Association (India). It was highlighted that:
- Handball Association (India) was registered only in May 2022 and hence did not fulfill the basic eligibility criteria of existing for a minimum of three years at the time of recognition.
- The claimed “merger” was neither authorized nor legally tenable and remains under judicial scrutiny.
- Recognition by international bodies like the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) and International Handball Federation (IHF) was secured based on misrepresentations.
The Hon’ble High Court, finding merit in the contentions raised by HFI, has ordered that the operation of the MYAS letter dated 25.07.2023 and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom shall remain stayed until the next date of hearing, i.e., 29.09.2023.
The Handball Federation of India continues to be the legitimate and recognized governing body for the sport of Handball in India, committed to the promotion, regulation, and development of the sport across the nation. HFI remains recognized by the Government of India and continues to work towards building a transparent, athlete-centric sports ecosystem in alignment with national and international standards.
We urge all affiliated state units, players, officials, and the handball community at large to remain aligned with the HFI and disregard misleading claims made by unauthorized entities.