Delhi High Court Seeks Centre's Stand On Manika Batra's Plea Against Table Tennis Federation Of India

The Delhi High Court on Monday granted two days' time to the counsel appearing for the Centre in order to seek instructions on the plea filed by Table Tennis player Manika Batra, challenging the Rules issued by Table Tennis Federation Of India (TTFI) which makes attending of National Coaching Camp compulsory for being selected for international events.

Justice Rekha Palli posted the matter for further hearing on September 23 after taking note of the fact that Batra is a high ranking player of the Country and that Centre has to be proactive considering the allegations levelled in the petition.

Batra is aggrieved over the fact that she has been left out of the contingent being sent for the 25th ITTF Asian Table Tennis Championships, 2021 to be held in Doha from September 28 till October 4.

The petition alleges that Soumyadeep Roy, the national coach, had pressurized Batra to "throw away" a match with a view to help one of his trainees at his private academy to qualify for the Olympics, 2020. She thus seeks enquiry into the Federation's management and conduct of Roy.

"Table Tennis is an individual sport, which requires specialised training with support staff. Only the personal coach would know the strengths, weakness, skills and areas which a player should focus and strengthen. However, these Rules do not permit any personal coach / support staff. Therefore, the Rules of 04.08.2021 are arbitrary, irrational, absurd and have no nexus with achieving of excellence in an individualised sport, such as table tennis," the plea states.

Assailing the said Rules, the petition further states that the player undergoing training with her support staff would be severely prejudiced and her performance would be seriously affected if the Rules are not quashed.

Senior Advocate Sachin Dutta appearing for Batra prayed for an interim stay on the impugned Rules due to the reason of another international event being scheduled for the month of November.

However, the Court adjourned the matter to September 23 while asking the Central Government counsel to obtain instructions in the matter.

The plea seeks the following prayers:

- Quashing the Rules and Regulations titled as "Rules and Regulations for National Camp" dated 04.08.2021 issued by Table Tennis Federation Of India. 

- Directing the TTFI to include the name of the Petitioner in the contingent representing India in the upcoming Asian Table Tennis Championship.

- Directing Union of India to enquire into the management of the TTFI, conduct of Soumyadeep Roy and other officials of Federation.

Case Title: Manika Batra v. Table Tennis Federation of India & Ors.