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In a bid to ensure transparency, the Sports Ministry today made it mandatory for the Indian Olympic Association and the national federations to disclose their activities and finances online, failing which their recognition could be reviewed.
In a letter to the IOA and NSFs, the Ministry has said these instructions have also been made part of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.
The letter said, “It has been noticed that although some of the NSFs are furnishing the required information to the Ministry, it is not available on the websites of many NSFs and hence is not available to general public and stakeholders.”
“...in a recent case of Badminton Association of India vs. Union of India, the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi has taken a serious view about non furnishing of information under RTI Act by the NSFs. Hence the court has passed an order dated 24th December, 2014 in W.P.(C) No.9318/2014 stating, inter-alia that this would be an appropriate case where Government of India should examine the manner in which the NSF is functioning,” it added.
Therefore, in order to reduce the paper work of IOA and NSFs, while making the information available to stakeholders regarding their functioning, it has been decided that henceforth it should be uploaded on their respective websites.
“...all these information should be made available on the website latest by 1.4.2015. Further, the website must be updated by IOA & NSFs as frequently as possible and at least once in a fortnight,” the letter stated.
“...it was also informed earlier that the NSFs shall post their audited accounts and the balance sheet of the previous year by 30th June of the current year. It was brought to the notice of the Ministry that finalisation of audited accounts and balance sheet takes time and it is not possible to post the same on the website by 30th June.”
The Ministry said it has been decided that the annual accounts of the previous financial year should be posted by the IOA and the NSFs during the current year as soon as they are finalised but latest by December 31.
“...annual recognition for the year 2015 may be reviewed in case the above instructions are not complied with by 1st April, 2015,” it said.
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