The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) to transfer control from former judge SP Garg to its elected governing body by February 11. This decision aims to enable Indian players to participate in the Asian Kabaddi Championship in Iran, addressing concerns over AKFI’s previous suspension.
New Delhi: In a crucial development for Indian Kabaddi, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed former judge SP Garg, the administrator of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), to hand over charge to its elected governing body by February 11.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh acknowledged that while certain issues still required a closer look, the decision to transfer control was an ad hoc arrangement to ensure Indian players could participate in the Asian Kabaddi Championship scheduled between February 20 and 25 in Iran.
While appreciating the work done by Garg, the court made it clear that this transition does not amount to a formal recognition of the AKFI body elected in December 2023.
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During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed the court that a meeting had been held with the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF). He stated that the IKF had assured that the suspension of AKFI would be lifted, provided that there was an elected governing body in place.
Earlier, on February 4, the Supreme Court had strongly emphasized the need for reforms in Indian sports federations. The court noted that “strong measures” were necessary to bring purity, fairness, autonomy, and independence to these bodies while ensuring that individuals with vested interests do not monopolize them.
The court was hearing a plea filed by national Kabaddi players Priyanka and Pooja, who sought directions for AKFI—currently unaffiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation—to send them to the Asian Kabaddi Championship. The petition highlighted the uncertainty faced by Indian players due to AKFI’s suspension.
With the Supreme Court’s directive, the transfer of power to the elected AKFI body is expected to clear the path for Indian Kabaddi players to participate in the prestigious Asian Kabaddi Championship in Iran later this month.
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