Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Plea To Declare Hockey As India's National Game

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a PIL which sought to declare hockey as the national game of India.

The PIL was filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who submitted that hockey has not been officially declared as India's national game contrary to common perception.

"If we can have a national animal, why shouldn't we have a national game", the petitioner submitted before a bench comprising Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and Bela Trivedi.

However the bench expressed disinclination to entertain the petition.

"Sorry sir. We won't be able to do anything. You may withdraw or we'll dismiss the petition", Justice Lalit told the petitioner. The petitioner chose to withdraw the petition.

The petitioner had also sought directions to the Centre and various sports bodies for the promotion and upliftment of games other than cricket.

The plea had urged the top court to issue directions to the Government for the advancement of Athletics Games and Sports played in Olympics and to provide advanced training, infrastructure, and funds to our Sportsmen

Expressing disinclination to entertain the petition, Justice UU Lalit, presiding Judge of the bench orally remarked, "There should be a drive within the people. People like Mary Kom have risen above the adversities. The court cannot do anything."

The petitioner had lamented that India could win an Olympic medal in the sport only after 41 years, despite dominating the game for several decades. This, according to him, us due to the "lack of initiative of the UOI and other sports bodies concerned, in making sure that this standard of this game is at par with other countries".