Asian Kabaddi Federation expresses concerns over functioning of Kabaddi Federation in India

The organisation has written a letter demanding that elections should take place soon.

The Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) has written a letter addressed to the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in India, Anurag Thakur. It has expressed deep concerns over the failure in conducting elections for better functioning of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). An administrator is currently managing the state of affairs of the AKFI. The administrator, appointed by the Delhi High Court, was meant to be for a limited time period.

However, elections have not taken place for the past three years. This has prompted the Secretary-General of AKF, Muhammad Sarwar Rana to express concerns. There is a demand for holding the elections and appointment of an executive body for the functioning of AKFI and Kabaddi in India.

“The Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) has been monitoring the situation of AKFI which has despite a lapse of more than three years not conducted its elections. We are expressing our deep concern regarding this situation. We hope that elections for various posts will be conducted as early as possible, preferable within a period of eight weeks.” the letter reads which was sent on 23 February 2022.

The Background

Back in 2018, the Delhi High Court had appointed Justice Garg as the administrator of AKFI. He replaced the retired Indian Administrative Service officer Sanat Kaul for the position. The High Court had quashed the appointment of Janardan Singh Gahlot and his wife as ‘life president’ and president of AKFI. Arjuna awardee Mahipal Singh and others took the action of filing a plea against the pair. 

They expressed doubts over the appointment of Gahlot, and his wife Mridula Bhadauria Gahlot. The Delhi High Court observed “anarchy”  in the affairs of the AKFI. It also affected the game of Kabaddi in the country.

Potential retraction of recognition 

The Asian Kabaddi Federation has warned that a failure of conducting elections will result in “suspension/withdrawal of recognition”. “We regret to say that in the event elections are not conducted and a newly elected executive body is not in place by 30-04-2022. Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) may consider suspension/withdrawal of recognition. Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) may consider the appointment of an ad-hoc committee to manage the affairs of Kabaddi in India.” the letter further read.

The situation is becoming very concerning for the AKFI. calls for stern action immediately. Failure to conduct elections over the past three years puts a lot of doubts about the functioning of the body. Losing recognition by the Asian Kabaddi Federation would be a negative and embarrassing situation. 

The letter from the AKF will certainly speed up the process of holding elections. The appointment of an executive body is the need of the hour. This will make the functioning of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India more transparent. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports should do the needful keeping in mind their internal constitutional rules. 

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