Delhi HC appoints former Karnataka HC Judge as Basketball Federation of India (BFI) administrator

The Delhi High Court has appointed Justice P. Krishna Bhat, a former judge of the Karnataka High Court, to oversee the election process of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) as per the National Sports Code and Model Election Guidelines.

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• The administrator’s appointment is effective immediately and will continue until a newly-elected body takes charge of BFI.
• The court has instructed the administrator to ensure the election process is concluded as soon as possible.
• This decision was made in response to several petitions regarding the election of office bearers and executive committee members for the term 2023-2027.
• The court emphasized that national sports federation elections must be conducted democratically, with clear, fair, and transparent rules.
• In this case, the rejection of nomination forms would result in the exclusion of a large number of state representatives from participating, which is unacceptable.
• Out of 30 nomination forms, 15 were rejected, and five candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving no contest for electing BFI office-bearers.
• Additionally, 27 members of the electoral college have expressed dissatisfaction with the selection process of candidates.

About the Basketball Federation of India (BFI)

• The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is the governing body for the sport of basketball in India.
• It was founded in 1950 and is affiliated with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
• The BFI is headquartered in New Delhi and is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for basketball in India.
• The BFI has both men’s and women’s national basketball teams that compete in international tournaments such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA Asia Cup, and the Asian Games.
• The BFI also conducts various national-level basketball championships for both men and women, such as the Senior National Basketball Championships, Junior National Basketball Championships, and Sub-Junior National Basketball Championships.
• The BFI has been instrumental in the growth and development of basketball in India over the years, with initiatives such as grassroots development programs, coaching clinics, and talent identification programs.
• The BFI has faced various challenges and controversies in the past, including disputes over the leadership of the organization and allegations of financial mismanagement. However, it continues to be a key organization in the Indian sports landscape, with a focus on promoting and developing the sport of basketball in the country.

What is The National Sports Code?

• The National Sports Code is a set of guidelines established by the Indian government to regulate the functioning of national sports federations and promote transparency and accountability in their operations.
• The code outlines rules and regulations related to the election of office-bearers, tenure, age, and a cooling-off period, among other things.
• It also aims to ensure that sports federations are run democratically and that athletes receive the necessary support and resources to compete at the national and international levels.
• The code was first introduced in 2011 and has since been amended several times to incorporate new developments and feedback from stakeholders.

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