Industry Odisha Bureau, Jun 4: In a bid to resolve sports-related disputes and significantly reduce prolonged litigations in multiple lower courts, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has reportedly initiated the due process meant for constituting India’s first-ever “National Sports Tribunal (NST)” to be headquartered in the national capital city New Delhi.
Reportedly, the MYAS has already invited applications for the “two member positions” in the country’s first ever apex quasi-judicial body by “June 18, 2026 as the deadline”.
Appointments to the NST will reportedly be made by a high-level “Search-cum-Selection Committee (SSC) headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a Supreme Court Judge nominated by the CJI, while the other members are the Union Sports Secretary and the Ministry of Law and Justice Secretary.”
So far the eligibility criteria of the applicants are concerned, “The person(s) should be of eminence in public life possessing substantial knowledge and experience in sports, public administration and law.”
Besides scrutinizing the applications, shortlisting the eligible candidates and conducting personal interactions, the aforesaid high-level SSC will reportedly be recommending the requisite appointments based on “qualifications, experience and suitability.”
Pertinent to note that: “In case an appointed Chairperson or Member is a serving Supreme Court or High Court judge, they must resign or take voluntary retirement from their parent service (VRS) prior to joining the NST.”
Regarding the ‘Powers’ and ‘Jurisdiction’ of the would-be NST, it is reported to be “having all the powers of a Civil Court”, and will adjudicate disputes related to “selection of athletes”, “elections in National Sports Federations (NSFs)”, “governance and administration issues”, and other sports-related disputes.
It has also been reportedly underlined that: “The NST’s verdicts can be challenged only before the Supreme Court of India.”
Need to be mentioned here that, the aims and objectives of establishing the NST are:
1) “Reducing dependence on the lower civil courts as more than 300 sports-related disputes are currently pending across various civil courts in India”
2) “Ensuring faster and specialised dispute resolution”
3) “Improving transparency and governance in Indian sports”
4) “Providing a cost-effective legal mechanism for athletes and sports bodies as the rules envisage a dedicated digital portal to facilitate techno-legal and paperless functioning.”
