Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Centre not to pay any money or provide any assistance to national sports federations (NSFs) which are not functioning in compliance with the code concerning the administration of sports in the country.

“No money will go henceforth to any entity which does not comply with the Sports Code. That is the long and short of it. What is suffering is the rule of law,” a bench comprising Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Vikas Mahajan said.

“It is unsporting. (It is) not sporting at all not to comply with the rules. There are too many red cards coming up,” the court added.

The bench was hearing a petition by senior advocate Rahul Mehra to ensure compliance by the federations with the Sports Code.

The court said that compliance shall be done by the end of one month and in the meantime, assistance to sportspersons through the Sports Authority of India would be ensured and possibly augmented. The federations which are not compliant shall be put on notice of suspension, it added.

The court was informed by the joint secretary, ministry of sports, that concerted efforts are underway to ensure that compliances are made by the end of the month and that while 15 federations were adhering with the Sports Code, six had been granted exemption. Five NSFs need to amend their constitutions and 17 required major changes, it was further said. Lawyer Anil Soni appeared for the Centre.

The petitioner disputed the Centre’s version and emphasised that at least 24 NSFs have “super luminary persons” in the management which is not envisaged by the code and that the mandate of 25 per cent of the management of these federations being prominent sportspersons of outstanding merit was not being followed.

The court observed that the endeavour is that the NSFs comply with the legal framework and “let them not say that the players are going to suffer”.

“In as much as there is an unclear picture as to which of the NSFs are fully compliant, it is therefore prudent that no more money or assistance is extended to any of the NSFs till the next date unless they comply. The respondent shall ensure that monies, facilities, and patronage are extended to NSF only if they comply (with the Sports Code) and also the orders (passed by the high court and the Supreme Court),” the court ordered.