NSF Recognition: Sports Ministry Not Expected to Act as Mere ‘Rubber Stamp’

The Delhi High Court recently remarked that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was not expected to act as a mere ‘rubber stamp’ and grant recognition to whichever body/entity was handpicked by the international federation.[1]

At the heart of the dispute is a communication dated May 8, 2025, issued by the Ministry recognising India Taekwondo as the National Sports Federation (NSF) despite the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) already being a recognised NSF for the concerned sport.

In its judgment dated November 18, 2025, the Court set aside the impugned communication, noting that the same was in contravention of Annexure III of the Sports Code, which contemplates that non-renewal/suspension/withdrawal of recognition will be preceded by procedural due process. Moreover, the impugned communication was held to be inconsistent with Clause 3.10 of the Sports Code since there was no formal order (after following procedural due process) passed by the Ministry, suspending/withdrawing the recognition of the TFI.

The Court also noted the controversy surrounding the manner in which India Taekwondo was incorporated and recognised by the international body. This concerns the allegation that India Taekwondo was incorporated at the behest of specific individuals who were part of the ad hoc committee constituted by the IOA in 2019 to administer the sport of Taekwondo in the country. These circumstances, the Court observed, were not taken into consideration by the Ministry while issuing the impugned communication.

What was taken into consideration by the Ministry was that India Taekwondo was affiliated with World Taekwondo and the Asian Taekwondo Union. Against this backdrop, the Court remarked that NSF recognition could not be at the dictates/whims/directives of any international federation. It said that the Sports Ministry was not expected to act as a mere ‘rubber stamp’ and grant recognition to whichever body/entity was handpicked by the international federation (irrespective of antecedents/track record/conflict of interest issues afflicting such body).

Finally, the Court directed the Union of India to reconsider the matter as regards recognition of a suitable body to act as the NSF for the sport of Taekwondo in the country, after affording an opportunity of hearing all the stakeholders, including the TFI and India Taekwondo, and thereafter take an appropriate decision by issuing a reasoned order, in consonance with the Sports Code and good governance practices. It was made clear that, in the meantime, the TFI will continue to act as the NSF.

[1] Taekwondo Federation of India v. Union of India and Ors. [WP(C) 7029/2025]