Release Funds Earmarked For Indian Women's Handball Team's Participation In Asian Jr. Championship: Allahabad HC Directs SAI

The Allahabad High Court today directed the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to release necessary funds for sponsoring the Women's Handball National team so that its participation in the 16th Asian Women Junior Handball Championship could be ensured. The Championship would be held in Kazakhstan from March 7 to March 14, 2022.

The Bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi, Justice Narendra Kumar Johari had issued this direction on a plea moved by Sheetal Kumari, who is a Handball player and has been selected to represent India in the 16th Asian Women's Junior Championship Handball, 2022.

It was her plea before the Court that an appropriate direction be issued to SAI and others as also to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for releasing the funds to the petitioner for the team's participation in the tournament.

Essentially, the required funds are not being released on account of non-recognition of the Governing Body of the Handball Federation of India, and a consequence of which, the Handball Federation of India is requiring the members of the team including the petitioner to deposit a sum of approximately Rs.1,50,000/- from personal funds to ensure participation of the team.

In essence, the petitioner challenged the order of the Handball Federation of India asking the petitioner to deposit Rs.150,000/- towards expenses for participation in the 16th Asian Women's Championship of Handball, 2022, a cost, which should be funded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and SAI.

In her plea, she also submitted that the action of the respondents is not only contrary to the policy of the government but is also be against the concept of women empowerment.

During the course of the hearing in the matter, the Court directed for supplying of the list of the selected prayers to Vineet Dhanda, the counsel appearing for Sports Authority of India, within 24 hours.

"It is assured that necessary steps for sponsoring the team to participate in the 16th Asian Women Junior Handball Championship shall be ensured at the end of the Sports Authority of India without fail. It is also expected that necessary funds for sponsoring the team may also be released timely so that participation is ensured in true letter and spirit of the orders passed by this Court," the Court further directed. 

The Court further called for a detailed reply within ten days on all the aspects from SAI so that the effective functioning of the Sports Authority of India in association with the sports federations is streamlined to effectuate the sports spirit as a part of educational development in the public interest.

With this, the matter has now been listed for further hearing on 11th April, 2022.

It may be noted that the Allahabad High Court in January 2022 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 Men's Handball national team in the 20th Asian Men's Handball Championship, scheduled to be held from Jan 18 to Jan 31 at Saudi Arabia.

Advocates Avinash Chandra, Akhilesh Kumar Kalra and Narendra Shanker Shukla appeared for the petitioner.

Case title - Sheetal Kumari v. U.O.I Thru. Secy.Minisrty Of Youth Affairs And Sports And 3 Others

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