New Delhi:
Sports Minister MS Gill on Tuesday expressed happiness over the decision of the Delhi High Court, directing the Centre to implement its National Sports Policy, and termed the verdict as a "Diwali gift" for youth and sportspersons of the country.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra gave the direction to the Centre to implement its policy, under which the upper age limit for the heads of sports federations has been fixed at 70 years while turning down the plea of five federations seeking a stay on the government policy.
"I am happy to hear the good news that the honourable High Court has upheld the Sports Ministry's order dated May 1, 2010 and directed this to be strictly enforced and followed," Gill said in a statement.
"This is Diwali gift from the court to youth and sportspersons of India on the eve of Asian Games," the statement added.
The Centre had, on May 1, come out with the guidelines under which the upper age limit was fixed at 70 years and the head of a sporting body was allowed to continue on the post for a maximum of three terms.
Challenging the policy, different sporting bodies had approached the court seeking a restrain on implementation of the government policy.
The court, however, refused to grant any relief and declined to stay the government order.