Supreme Court Rejects Taekwondo Federation Of India's Plea Against Delhi HC Bar On Acting As National Sports Federation

The Supreme Court yesterday refused to interfere with the decision of the Delhi High Court, which held that until the Union Government decides on the recognition of the Taekwondo Federation of India as a National Sports Federation (NSF), neither the Taekwondo Federation of India nor Taekwondo India will act as the NSF. 

To briefly state, the issue pertains to the recognition of 'Taekwondo India' as the NSF for the sport of taekwondo since the Taekwondo Federation of India was unable to obtain the required recognition from the World Taekwondo, which is the International Governing Body for the sport as recognised by the International Olympic Committee. 

A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe heard the matter. 

Senior Advocate PS Patwalia, for the Taekwondo Federation of India, submitted: "One division bench says withdrawal of recognition. The government can decide what it wants to do and then give notice for withdrawal. Imposter has been made a party to my withdrawal proceedings."

However, the bench refused to interfere. Justice Narasimha remarked that this amounts to too much interference in sports.

Patwalia submitted that the single judge's order was rational, as it left it open to the government to decide whether it wants to derecognise it or not. He added that, however, the division bench directed the withdrawal of recognition from Taekwondo India. He prayed that till the Union takes a decision, at least the Taekwondo Federation of India should be able to function as players are suffering. He added that there is a complete vacuum because of the division bench's order. 

"Some sanity should come to sports in our country," Justice Narasimha remarked. Patwalia then requested to withdraw the special leave petition, which the Court allowed.

Against the decision to recognise Taekwondo India as the NSF, the Taekwondo Federation of India filed a writ petition before the Delhi High Court. Vide an order dated November 18, 2025, the single judge had set aside the letter issued by the Union of India recognising Taekwondo India as the NSF.

It directed the Union to reconsider the recognition of 'Taekwondo India' as the NSF after hearing both parties, including the Taekwondo Federation of India. Till the decision is made, the single judge ordered that the Taekwondo Federation of India will continue to act as the NSF.

This was then challenged before the division bench, which held that there could not be an automatic withdrawal of an NSF as per the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.

On January 6, the division bench held that in the absence of withdrawal of recognition to the Taekwondo Federation of India, there cannot be a recognition of Taekwondo India as NSF. Therefore, it directed the Union to issue a show-cause notice to the Taekwondo Federation of India for the withdrawal of the recognition and decide the issue within six weeks.

Until then, neither the Taekwondo Federation of India nor Taekwondo India shall act as the NSF.

Case Details: TAEKWONDO FEDERATION OF INDIA v UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.|SLP(C) No. 2920-2921/2026