Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Plea Seeking Directions For Upliftment Of Sports And Proper Allocation Of Funds

The matter was heard by the bench of Justice UU Lalit, SR Bhat and Bela M Trivedi.

Expressing disinclination to entertain the petition, Justice UU Lalit, presiding Judge of the bench orally remarked, "There should be a drive within the people. People like Mary Kom have risen above the adversities. The court cannot do anything."

The petitioner Advocate Vishal Tiwari had sought directions for initiating public accountability of the funds allocated for the sports industry and perform greater promotional activities with due broadcasting of sports.

The PIL had also sought to declare hockey the national game of India.  "There is a popular perception that Hockey is the National Game or sport of India, but it has not been officially recognised by the government yet", the petitioner said.

"If we can have a national animal, why shouldn't we have a national game", the petitioner submitted before the bench .

However the bench expressed disinclination to entertain the petition.

"Sorry sir. We won't be able to do anything. You may withdraw or we'll dismiss the petition", Justice Lalit told the petitioner. The petitioner chose to withdraw the petition.

Further, directions to promote the Athletics games of Olympics at School and College level, and for the formulation of a Special Committee to govern the Sports program in Schools and Colleges, were also sought for.

The plea had urged the top court to issue directions to the Government for the advancement of Athletics Games and Sports played in Olympics and to provide advanced training, infrastructure, and funds to our Sportsmen

According to Tiwari, such inculcation of sports education with world-class facilities, infrastructure and correct use of public money needs to be looked into with greater prominence for the upliftment of the sports industry of the country.

The plea had argued that the promotional activities pertaining to sports other than cricket has been extremely disappointing, resulting in lesser awareness of other sports that are equally important for the people to play.

"Such a lukewarm approach with no allowances for the players has resulted in demotivation and dropping out of those sport," plea had stated.

Referring to the Olympics, the plea had also averred that the inability to compete with the best of the best on the greatest platform in the world is due to a lack of exposure to top-level competition, infrastructure, international level facilities and training.

Case Title: Vishal Tiwari v Union of India and Ors

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