Karnataka High Court Stays Disaffiliation of Karnataka Badminton Association

By interim relief, the Karnataka High Court has stayed the letter issued by the Badminton Association of India, disaffiliating the Karnataka Badminton Association for not amending the byelaws in tune with the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.

The main contention on this issue is that the constitution of the KBA Executive Committee had 10 life members and 9 district representatives in a 19-member executive committee, reducing the districts to a minority. This was seen as a violation of clause 3.10 of the Sports Code by the Youth Empowerment and Sports Karnataka, which states that at least 50% of the district association must be affiliated with the state federation who are indirectly affiliated with the national body. BAI had asked the KBA to bring its Constitution in line within four months. But the KBA created a new body named the Karnataka Badminton Association – Badminton Management Committee that would deal exclusively with badminton-related activities and implement the laws. This, however, was not agreeable to BAI. 

The KBA secretary contested that there was no violation as they have a majority of the 31 districts of Karnataka affiliated. It was argued that the letter disaffiliated the petitioner and violated natural justice principles and that no prior notice was issued.