Equestrian under scrutiny: Delhi HC forms panel to address governance issues

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The Delhi High Court has taken a significant step to address long-standing issues in equestrian sports by forming a five-member fact-finding committee. The decision aims to investigate the current state of infrastructure, governance, and athlete participation across the country.

Chaired by retired Justice Najmi Waziri, the committee includes representatives from the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and two accomplished equestrian athletes, Divyakriti Singh and Shruti Vora, who have represented India on international platforms.

The court directed the committee to evaluate the availability and distribution of equestrian infrastructure, particularly in underrepresented districts. It will examine the role of state associations, private clubs, and the feasibility of a more inclusive governance model aligned with the Sports Code. Justice Sanjeev Narula, presiding over the matter, emphasised that the investigation must also consider the integration of grassroots clubs into district and state associations to strengthen the sport's pyramid structure.

The move comes in response to a petition by the Rajasthan Equestrian Association, challenging exemptions granted by the Sports Ministry to the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) under the National Sports Development Code, 2011. These exemptions had allowed deviations from governance principles, including state-level representation and electoral processes.

The court criticised EFI's argument that equestrian sports are unique due to the involvement of horses, which EFI described as co-athletes. Refuting this claim, the court highlighted the Sports Code's classification of horses as equipment, reinforcing the need for compliance with governance norms. "The peculiarities of equestrian sports do not warrant a departure from the principles of inclusivity and accountability enshrined in the Sports Code," the court observed.

While the exemptions granted to EFI will temporarily remain in effect to avoid disrupting ongoing activities, the High Court stressed that this does not legitimise them. The committee's findings, due in three months, will guide the Sports Ministry in determining whether to continue, amend, or revoke these exemptions.