Ministry show causes EFI over governance lapses

NEW DELHI: The sports ministry has issued a show-cause notice to the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) over governance failures and factionalism that it said affected the federation’s functioning and hurt the future of rider athletes. TOI had first reported that sexual harassment accused Col (retd) Tarsem Singh Warraich had travelled with the country’s Tent Pegging team as manager-cum-coach for the World Cup qualifiers in Jordan, while out on bail.While taking a dim view of EFI executive committee member Warraich’s presence with the four-member Indian team in Amman for the International Tent Pegging WC qualifiers, the ministry noted that the Delhi high court and the court-appointed observer, Justice (retd) Najmi Waziri, repeatedly highlighted that the absence of a duly elected body severely affected the federation’s governance and the interests of athletes. The ministry stated that the international federation, FEI, also warned of possible disaffiliation, resulting in the athletes’ loss.The ministry asked the EFI, presently run by interim president Col (retd) Jagat Singh and secretary general Col (retd) Jaiveer Singh, to explain within 15 days why appropriate action under provisions of the national sports code should not be taken against the Army-run federation for its acts of omission. The ministry also sought a separate explanation from the EFI over Warraich’s selection for the event at a time when the EC member was out on bail in the molestation case.“The recent issues pertaining to the selection of athletes for the Asian Youth Games demonstrates that the malfunctioning of EFI is now explicitly hurting the interest of athletes and is resulting in potential embarrassment for the country on the world stage,” the ministry stated in its four-page show-cause notice, a copy of which is with TOI.“Serious disputes persist in relation to almost every aspect of the functioning of EFI, including discrepancies with respect to its membership. It has been noticed that EFI did not publish the annual calendar for 2025 for competitions, along with the national championships for year 2025 till date. The lapses on the part of EFI related to non-utilisation of ACTC budget in previous year and current year; lack of empaneled coaches and support staff; non-submission of any concrete plan for upcoming Asian Games and not publishing of selection policy for Asian Games, have been noticed. These lapses demonstrate governance failure on part of EFI,” the ministry said.It highlighted a Delhi HC order dated Dec 23, 2025, where the court observed that serious disputes persisted in relation to almost every aspect of the functioning and the present state of affairs of the EFI, including discrepancies with respect to its membership.“Over the years, the EFI has granted direct membership to several individuals, clubs, and units of the Indian Army, including dog units, supply depots, mechanised transport battalions etc. Such inclusion appears to have been undertaken with a view to maintaining majority voting strength and effective control of the EFI. A substantial portion of the EFI's membership comprises officers or clubs affiliated with the Indian Army,” the court observed.