'No Question Of Misconduct, Give Her A Clean Chit': Delhi High Court Tells Table Tennis Federation On Manika Batra's Plea

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Table Tennis Federation of India to give a clean chit to player Manika Batra, who had made a complaint against the national sports body following her non-selection for the 25th ITTF Asian Table Tennis Championships, 2021.

Batra had alleged 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 sought enquiry into the Federation's management and conduct of Roy.

Justice Rekha Palli, who had earlier directed the Central Government to conduct an independent enquiry into the allegations put forth by Batra, perused the report filed in a sealed cover and said that there was no question of any misconduct on Batra's part.

The Court also expressed its displeasure at the functioning of the TTFI, saying that the country cannot afford to have players approaching courts for their grievances.

"Is your Federation willing to take a stand and say whatever show cause notice was issued to her, the Federation is willing to withdraw it? I have seen the enquiry report filed by the Sports Ministry. The idea is to resolve things. If without being targeted, she can concentrate on matches…," the Court said to the counsel representing TTFI.

The Court also added "A lot has to be said. I am not happy with the way your Federation is functioning. You are making issues out of nothing. You are trying to trouble a sportsperson for no reason."

Senior Advocate Sachin Dutta appearing for Batra submitted that pursuant to Court's order, the TTFI, in an attempt to overreach the Court had on the same date approached the International Table Tennis Federation requesting it to conduct an enquiry on the issues raised by Batra.

Accordingly, he prayed for an independent enquiry headed by a retired Judge of the High Court and appointment of an administrator in the matter.

On the other hand, counsel appearing for TTFI disputed the said contention by submitting that there was no mala fide on its part while making the said correspondence.

Noting that the said issue will be considered by the Court after perusing the correspondence, the Court the said correspondences may be brought on record within one day. The matter is now posted for further hearing on November 17. It also granted time to the TTFI's counsel to seek appropriate instructions in the matter.

The Court also said that if the Federation does not take hint from its observations to try and resolve the issue, it will not shy away from initiating a suo moto contempt in the matter.

Significantly, Batra had sought a personal coach,. Her plea stated, "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."

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

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