Ahmedabad : Prominent sports activist and former national table tennis player Yatharth Pandya has taken legal action against the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for failing to enforce the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports (NCAAFS). Mandated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2010, the Code seeks to eliminate age-related discrepancies and foster fairness in Indian sports by requiring strict age-verification protocols.
Legal Notice Highlights Non-Compliance
In his legal notice, Pandya accuses the TTFI of negligence in implementing key measures outlined under the NCAAFS. These include the failure to conduct mandatory medical examinations and issue age-verification ID cards for athletes. The notice states that such lapses have led to favoritism, compromised fair play, and deprived deserving athletes of their rightful opportunities to compete.
The legal action references landmark judicial rulings, including BCCI v. Netaji Cricket Club (Supreme Court), Rahul Mehra v. Union of India (Delhi High Court), and Ram Diya Attri v. Union of India (Punjab & Haryana High Court).
These cases emphasize the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to regulations by sports governing bodies. The notice also cites violations of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution (equality before the law) and the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, underscoring the TTFI’s legal obligations.
Speaking about the issue, Pandya sai “ Age fraud compromises the integrity of sports and denies genuine talent their rightful opportunities. It is a grave injustice for any sports federation to disregard mandatory rules that protect fairness and transparency. This legal action is a step toward holding TTFI accountable and ensuring a level playing field for athletes.”
The legal notice gives the TTFI 10 days to respond with a detailed account of corrective measures being implemented to comply with the NCAAFS. Failure to respond could result in further legal action, including:
Filing formal complaints with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India
Judicial intervention seeking damages for negligence and misconduct
Pandya’s Role in Sports Governance Reform
As the President of the Sports Activists Association of India, Mr. Pandya has been a vocal advocate for reforms in sports governance. He has consistently pushed for greater transparency and ethical conduct to safeguard athletes’ rights and the integrity of Indian sports.
