India Shouldn't Be Unrepresented, Ensure Team's Participation In Asian Men's Handball Championship: Allahabad HC Directs SAI

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Sports Authority of India to ensure participation of the Indian Handball national team in the 20th Asian Men's Handball Championship, scheduled to be held from Jan 18 to Jan 31 in Saudi Arabia.

This order was made by the bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Narendra Kumar Johari which was hearing the writ plea of a member of the Indian Team, Mohit Yadav.

Essentially, Yadav had moved the High Court highlighting the fact that the budget for sponsoring the Indian team to participate in the tournament was earmarked by the Sports Authority of India, however, the same was not being released on account of some election proceedings taking place to constitute the management body in Handball Federation of India.

It was submitted in the Court that although the elections had taken place, however, its recognition by the Sports Authority of India was presently in progress.

On Wednesday, the Court had asked the Sports Authority of India to immediately release Rs.29.60 Lacs, the fund earmarked by it for the purpose of sponsoring the participation of the Indian Handball national team in the tournament.

On Thursday, the A.S.G. appeared before the Court and submitted that necessary measures, as regards the disbursement of funds could not be taken due to internal election dispute as regards the constitution of management in Handball Federation of India.

It was further submitted that the dispute is sub-judice before the Punjab and Haryana High Court wherein an administrator is stated to have been appointed.

In these circumstances, the Court, at the outset observed that the country should not remain unrepresented in the event for which the budget is available with the Sports Authority of India.

Therefore, the Court directed the Sports Authority of India to ensure participation of the Indian Handball team as has been finalized for which a sanction of the budget has also been earmarked.

The Court also made it clear that the Sports Authority of India may take a decision to do the needful notwithstanding the fact that some dispute with respect to the constitution of the management body in Handball Federation of India is subjudice before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

Senior Advocate Akhilesh Kalra appeared for the petitioner along with advocate Avinash Chandra.

Case Title - Mohit Yadav v. Union Of India Through Secretary Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports And Others

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