Chapter IX NATIONAL SPORTS TRIBUNAL

1. (1) The Central Government shall, by notification, constitute a National Sports Tribunal consisting of a chairperson and two other members, to provide for the independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient disposal of sports related disputes.
2. (2) The chairperson shall be a person who is or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.
3. (3) The members shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in sports, public administration and law.
4. (4) The chairperson and the other members of the Tribunal shall be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendations of a Search-cum-Selection Committee consisting of the following members, namely:---
   • (a) the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court Judge recommended by the Chief Justice of India---chairperson;
   • (b) the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Law and Justice---member;
   • (c) the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Sports---member
5. (5) The Search-cum-Selection Committee shall determine the procedure for making its recommendations.
6. (6) Notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment, order or decree of any court, or in any law for the time being in force, the Search-cum-Selection Committee shall recommend a panel of two names for appointment to the post of chairperson or member, as the case may be, and the Central Government shall take a decision on the recommendations made by that Committee, preferably within three months from the date of such recommendation.
7. (7) No appointment shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy or absence of a member in the Search-cum-Selection Committee.
8. (8) The term of office and other conditions of service of chairperson and members of the Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed.
9. (9) The Tribunal shall formulate its own procedure for the conduct of its business including the timelines to be followed for the disposal of matters.
10. (10) All expenses incurred in connection with the Tribunal shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

1. (1) The Central Government shall remove from office a chairperson or member of the Tribunal who---
   • (a) has been adjudged an insolvent;
   • (b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude;
   • (c) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member;
   • (d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member; or
   • (e) has so abused his position as to render his continuation in office prejudicial to public interest: Provided that where the chairperson or member is proposed to be removed on any ground specified in clauses (c) to (e), he shall be informed of the charges against him and given an opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.
2. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a member of the Tribunal shall not be removed from his office on the grounds specified therein unless the Chief Justice of India or his nominee judge, on a reference being made to him in this behalf by the Central Government, has on inquiry held in accordance with such procedure as he may specify in this behalf, recommended the removal.

1. (1) The Central Government shall, in consultation with the Tribunal, appoint such officers and other employees as may be necessary for discharging the functions of the Tribunal.
2. (2) The officers and other employees of the Tribunal shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence and control of the chairperson or any other member of the Tribunal to whom powers for exercising such superintendence and control are delegated by the chairperson.
3. (3) The qualifications, appointment, salary and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of officers and other employees of the Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed.

The Tribunal shall not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the following matters, namely:---

1. (a) any dispute, or conflict arising during the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, or any other similar events organised by any International Federations;
2. (b) any dispute falling within the exclusive jurisdiction of---
   • (i) the internal disputes resolution committee of a National Sports Body; or
   • (ii) any other tribunal or court; or
   • (iii) any International Federation; or
   • (iv) the Court of Arbitration for Sports established in Lausanne, Switzerland;
3. (c) doping related disputes, where Disciplinary Panels constituted under the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 (15 of 2022) have exclusive jurisdiction;
4. (d) any matter in respect of which the International Charters and Statutes require the parties to submit to specific mechanism or forum for adjudication.

The members and other officers and employees of the Board or the Tribunal shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of clause (28) of section 2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023).

1. (1) All cases under civil jurisdiction falling within the scope of this Act, in which the National Sports Bodies are impleaded as parties and are pending before a District Court or High Court immediately before the constitution of the Tribunal, shall be transferred to the Tribunal on and from such date as may be specified by the Central Government.
2. (2) The cases transferred to the Tribunal under sub-section (1) may be heard and adjudicated from the stage at which such dispute was pending in the concerned Court, or may be heard afresh if the Tribunal deems appropriate after recording the reasons therefor in writing.

No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter on which the Tribunal is empowered under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred on the Tribunal by or under this Act.

1. (1) The Tribunal shall have, for the purposes of discharging its functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:---
   • (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
   • (b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
   • (c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
   • (d) calling for any public record or document or a copy of such record or document, from any office, subject to the provisions of sections 129 and 130 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (47 of 2023);
   • (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
   • (f) reviewing its decisions;
   • (g) dismissing an application for default or deciding it, ex parte;
   • (h) setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any order passed by it, ex parte; and
     • (i) any other matter which may be prescribed.
2. (2) Every proceeding before the Tribunal shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 228, 229, 233, 257 and 267 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023).
3. (3) The Tribunal shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purpose of section 215 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023).

1. (1) Unless the International Charters and Statutes provide for appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an appeal shall lie against any order of the Tribunal, not being an interlocutory order, to the Supreme Court.
2. (2) No appeal shall lie against any decision made by the Tribunal with the consent of the parties.
3. (3) Every appeal under this section shall be preferred within a period of thirty days from the date of the decision appealed against: Provided that the Supreme Court may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.

1. (1) An order passed by the Tribunal under this Act shall be executable as a decree of a civil court, and for this purpose, the Tribunal shall have all the powers of a civil court.
2. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Tribunal may transmit any order made by it to a civil court having local jurisdiction and such civil court shall execute the order as if it were a decree made by that court.