News
Delhi HC Quashes Basketball Federation’s Birth Certificate Rule
In a decision dated January 27, 2025, the Delhi High Court directed respondent no.1, Basketball Federation of India (BFI), to follow the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports and set aside its condition, which insisted upon a birth certificate issued within five years of a player’s birth for participation in a basketball event.[1]
This stipulation regarding age verification was contained in BFI’s circular dated February 19, 2024, for determining the eligibility of players to participate in the 74th Junior National Basketball Championship. The petitioners challenged this rule, arguing that it lacked any rationale and violated the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports. They contended that, despite meeting the eligibility criteria for participation, they were unfairly excluded from competition due to their inability to provide birth certificates issued within the prescribed time frame— a difficulty arising from their socio-economic background.
This case follows a similar issue that arose in 2023 when the Court specified that an alternative mechanism should be made available if a birth certificate was not issued within two years of birth. The Court had emphasised that players should be allowed to submit the documents, with subsequent verification and, if necessary, medical tests. However, the petition in that case was withdrawn as the concerned tournament had already concluded.
In this case, the Court referred to its 2023 order, applying it to the current situation. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (respondent no.4 herein), in an affidavit filed with the Court, reiterated that the BFI must adhere to the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports, which provides for mandatory medical examination on the first occasion a sportsperson participates in any age-restricted competition. The BFI’s counter-affidavit cited inadequate facilities and infrastructure and maintained that X-ray and bone density tests were inconclusive to prove the age of the players. The Court rejected this argument.
The Court ruled that players should not be denied the opportunity to compete solely because they lack a birth certificate issued within a specific time frame. Consequently, the Court set aside the impugned criteria and instructed the BFI to adhere to the provisions of the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports.
[1] Deepak Jain & Ors. v. Basketball Federation of India & Ors. [WP(C) 4648/2024] and Chandini v. Basketball Federation of India [WP(C) 16299/2024]
