Manipur Softball Association v. Softball Association of India and 2 Others

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Item No. 60

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL

MC (WP (C)) No. 26 of 2024 [Ref: WP (C) No. 79 of 2023]

Manipur Softball Association Petitioner Vs.

Softball Association of India; & 2 Ors. Respondents BEFORE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH

19.01.2024

Heard Mr. Kh. Tarunkumar, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. Jemon, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr. T. Momo Singh, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No. 2 and Mr. RK Deepak, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondent No. 3. The present application had been filed with a prayer for directing the Softball Association of India and the Secretary General Softball Association of India to allow the Manipur Softball team selected by the Manipur Softball Association on

13.01.2024 to participate in the East Zone Softball Championship for Men and Women to be held at Ranaghat Friend's Club, Debnath Institution, Mission Road, Ranaghat, Dist Nadia (W.B.) from 26th January to 28th January, 2024. The learned senior counsel appearing for the applicant submitted that in the similar situation, this Court by passing an order dated 02.11.2023 in MC (WP

(C)) No. 322 of 2023 (Ref: WP (C) No. 79 of 2023) allowed the team selected by the Manipur Softball Association to participate in the earlier tournament organized by the respondents No. 1 & 2. Even though, the respondents No. 1 & 2 has not filed any counter affidavit in the connected writ petition, an objection has been raised orally by Mr. T. Momo Singh, learned counsel representing the State respondents No. 1 & 2 that KABORA MBAM SAPANA CHANU by KABORAMBAM SAPANA CHANU Date: 2024.01.19 13:36:19 -08'00'

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as per Rules and Regulations, only the team sponsored by the State Association which is affiliated to the Softball Association of India is permitted to participate in any tournament organized by the Softball Association of India, and that as the petitioner's association has already been de-affiliated, the team sponsored by the petitioner's association cannot be allowed to participate in the said tournament. On the other hand, Mr. RK Deepak, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondent No. 3 submitted that the term of the office bearers of the petitioner's association has already expired and as such, the players selected by them should not be permitted to participate in the tournament. All the objections raised by the learned counsel appearing for the respondents as well as the issues raised in the writ petition will be decided in the main writ petition after the respondents filed their respective counter affidavit. Takin into consideration the interest of the players representing the State and taking into consideration the earlier order passed by this Court, this Court see no reason as to why the prayer made in the present application should not be allowed. Accordingly, the respondents No. 1 & 2 is hereby directed to allow the players selected by the petitioner's association to participate in the aforesaid tournament without any hindrance. With the aforesaid direction, the present writ application is disposed of.

JUDGE Sapana