Tokyo Paralympics : Delhi High Court Seeks PCI Reply On Naresh Sharma's Plea

In the ongoing hearing of an appeal preferred by 5-time Paralympian shooter and Arjuna Award winner Naresh Kumar Sharma, the Delhi High Court has requested Advocate Mahesh Rawat, appearing for the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), to bring on record the email reply by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) stating that it is not possible to include an additional participant from India in the Tokyo Paralympic games starting from August 24.

The said email reply was received in pursuance of the decision of the Supreme Court wherein it prima facie observed that the exclusion was arbitrary and directed the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) to recommend Sharma's name as an additional participant in the 50-meter para shooter event in the Tokyo Paralympics. The Division Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna with the said directions had disposed of the special leave petition with liberty to approach the High Court.

Today, the Division Bench bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh adjourned the matter while observing that in the absence of the said email reply by Taylor Anderson, Senior Manager of the World Shooting Para Sports on record any decision cannot be arrived at on the present appeal.

Yesterday, the petitioner had argued that instead of him another candidate, Deepak was selected despite him not being qualified as per the eligibility criteria. However, the PCI responded to say that in its endeavour to select the best candidates for the game, Deepak was found to be the one with the highest score in the relevant category. It was also stated before the Court that Sharma's performance has not been up to the mark for the past 2-3 years.

The matter is listed on August 11, 2021. 

Case: Naresh Kumar Sharma v. Paralympic Committee of India

Citation: LPA 213/2021

Coram: Chief Justice D.N.Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh

Counsels: Varun Singh for Petitioner and Mahavir Rawat for PCI

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