Delhi High Court Strikes Down Birth Certificate Rule, Ensures Equal Access to Sports

The Delhi High Court ruled that athletes lacking birth certificates due to socio-economic hardships cannot be denied participation in sporting events.

It struck down the Basketball Federation of India’s (BFI) requirement for birth certificates issued within five years of birth, deeming it arbitrary and unfair.

The court directed adherence to the National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports, which allows medical tests for age verification and rejected BFI’s argument of lacking infrastructure and funds, emphasizing government reimbursement of these expenses.

This ruling promotes fair access to sports ensuring equal opportunities in competitive sports selection, setting a precedent for federations to adopt inclusive policies, and preventing discrimination based on documentation barriers.