Haryana Amends Sports University Act, Clarifying Jurisdiction and Campus Establishment

The Sports University of Haryana (Amendment) Act, 2025, designated as Haryana Act No. 8 of 2025, received the assent of the Governor of Haryana on April 1, 2025. This legislative instrument, an amendment act, was subsequently published for general information in the Haryana Government Gazette on April 8, 2025, thereby coming into force on that date. The Act was enacted by the Legislature of the State of Haryana in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India with the stated purpose of further amending the Sports University of Haryana Act, 2022, which is referred to as the principal Act. The amendments introduced by the 2025 Act primarily focus on refining definitions and explicitly delineating the territorial jurisdiction of the University.

Key provisions of the amendment include modifications to section 2 of the principal Act, which deals with definitions. Specifically, clause (k) concerning the definition of "Fund" was substituted with a new clause stating, "(k) Fund means the fund of the University referred to in section 29;". Additionally, clause (o) defining "outlying campus" was replaced to clarify that an outlying campus means "the campus of the University as may be established by it at any place within the State;". Further changes were made to sub-section (2) of section 3 of the principal Act, where an existing proviso (a conditional clause or stipulation) was omitted, and a minor punctuation change was effected. Crucially, sub-section (2) of section 5 of the principal Act was entirely substituted with a new provision that explicitly defines the University's operational reach. The legislation provided: “The University shall in exercise of its powers have jurisdiction over the whole State of Haryana.” These changes affect the administrative and operational framework of the Sports University of Haryana, impacting its financial management, campus expansion capabilities, and geographical scope of authority.

The legislative intent behind the Sports University of Haryana (Amendment) Act, 2025, was to streamline and enhance the operational clarity of the Sports University of Haryana. By amending the principal Act of 2022, the State Legislature aimed to address potential ambiguities in the earlier statutory framework and provide a more precise legal foundation for the University's activities. The substitution of the definition for "outlying campus" specifically broadens the scope for the University to establish additional campuses anywhere within the geographical boundaries of Haryana, thereby facilitating the expansion of sports education and infrastructure across the state. The explicit declaration of the University's jurisdiction over the entire State of Haryana in section 5(2) serves to remove any doubt regarding its territorial authority, ensuring that its powers and functions can be exercised uniformly throughout the state. These amendments collectively aim to strengthen the institutional framework of the Sports University, enabling it to fulfill its mandate more effectively by providing clear legal parameters for its functioning and growth.

Keywords: Sports University of Haryana, Haryana Act 8 of 2025, Sports Education, University Jurisdiction, Haryana Legislature, Amendment Act, Higher Education, Haryana Government, Legislative Update Geo Tags: India, Haryana District: Not Applicable