Lack of Birth Certificate No Bar for Sports Participation

The Delhi High Court ruled that the lack of birth certificate due to socio-economic constraints cannot be a reason to deny athletes the opportunity to compete in sports events.

Key Court Observations: Court Rules in Favor of Players Facing Documentation Issues

Justice Sachin Datta emphasized that many individuals from underprivileged backgrounds might not have birth certificates. However, this should not prevent them from participating in sporting events.
The Court stated that the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports provides medical and scientific testing to verify age. These tests are effective and legally binding on all sporting federations, including the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

Challenge to Basketball Federation of India’s Condition

A group of players challenged the BFI’s eligibility criteria for the 74th Junior National Basketball Championship (May 2024). The federation required:
An original birth certificate from the Municipal Corporation or Registrar of Birth & Death issued at birth or within five years.
A valid Aadhar card for verification.
The petitioners argued that this condition was arbitrary and illegal. Many lacked these documents due to socio-economic conditions, despite being eligible based on their actual age.

Medical Tests Are Sufficient

The Court ruled in favor of the petitioners and set aside the BFI’s condition. It stated that the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports allows for age verification through medical tests, making birth certificates unnecessary.
The BFI must now follow the National Code and accept medical tests as valid proof of age for players.

Impact on Indian Sports

This ruling ensures that talented athletes from underprivileged backgrounds get a fair chance to compete. It also prevents unjust exclusion due to lack of documents.