Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Appeal By Specially-Abled Tennis Player For Participating In Deaflympics As Substitute Player

The Delhi High Court recently issued notice on an appeal filed by a specially-abled tennis player, seeking to participate as a substitute player in the upcoming Deaflympics to be held at Brazil in May 2022.

Earlier, a single Bench of the High Court had directed the Sport Authority of India and the All India Sports Council of the Deaf to include the Appellant herein in the training camp. However, no direction for inclusion as a substitute player in the games was passed.

Aggrieved thereof, the Appellant, Kirti Lata preferred the instant appeal, contending that in case the requirement appears to exist where one or more of the selected athletes are either injured or otherwise rendered unfit to participate in the event, then substitute or reserve athlete, like Appellant, can participate in the event even at the eleventh hour.

"Single Judge was pleased to hold that the right of the Appellant to participate in the Deaf Olympics would arise, if at all, only in the eventuality of one of the selected team members being rendered unfit to participate in the event in question. Despite making the said observations, the Ld. Single Judge has not issued appropriate directions against the Respondents directing them to take the Appellant as a substitute or reserve player along with the selected team of two players in the upcoming Deaf Olympics to be held at Brazil in May 2022," the appeal states.

The Appellant claims that she was initially selected for the Deaflympics. However, her candidature was recalled after the Sports Authority of India decided to take only 2+2 men and women players for Tennis team instead of taking minimum 4+4 men and women players for Tennis teams, as per the mandate of ICSD to the National federation, the plea alleges.

It is submitted that if the Appellant is not taken for this Deaflympics, her career will be spoiled for no-fault of hers and she will have to wait for another 4 years for this upcoming event.

The appeal highlights that the Appellant had participated in World Tennis Team Championships-2018 at Turkey and she secured 3rd place during National selection Trials.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navneet Chawla has issued notices to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India and All India Sports Council of the Deaf.

The Appellant is seeking to set aside the order of the single judge and issue appropriate directions to take the appellant along with the Law Tennis team, allowing herto participate as a reserve or substitute player in the upcoming games.

The matter is posted on April 04, 2022.

Case Title: Kirti Lata v. Union of India

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