EFI Faces Financial Burden After Court-Appointed Ad-Hoc Committee

The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) is facing a financial dilemma after the Delhi High Court appointed an ad-hoc committee to manage its affairs. The court's decision stems from a plea by the Rajasthan Equestrian Association (REA), which challenged the EFI Executive Committee's attempt to extend its term, claiming it violated the Sports Code.

The EFI contends that it has received exemptions from the Sports Ministry, exempting it from certain provisions of the Sports Code. However, the court has ruled that the EFI must pay a hefty fee to the ad-hoc committee, which includes Rs 5 lakh per month to the chairperson and Rs 1 lakh each to two members.

This financial burden has raised concerns within the EFI, which has an annual revenue of only Rs 2 crore. An EFI source expressed that diverting funds to pay the committee's fees would significantly impact the growth of the sport, as it would force the EFI to reduce coaching camps and tournaments.

The EFI legal team is exploring legal options to challenge the court's order, arguing that it has not fully considered the financial implications. The source also questioned why elections have not been held despite the Sports Ministry's support for them.

Meanwhile, the EFI website has experienced technical difficulties, which the source attributed to a glitch that is being rectified.

Tags: #EquestrianFederationofIndia, #DelhiHighCourt, #AdHocCommittee, #SportsCode, #FinancialBurden