Piyusha Modi v. State of Punjab and Others

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABo&oHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o 237o o o o o o o o CWP-15723-2021o(O&M).o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o15.02.2023.o o PIYUSHAoMODIo o o o o o o...Petitionero o o o o o o o Versuso o o STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo o o o ,Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o *****o Present:ooo Mr.oRakeshoSobti,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitionero inoCWP-15723-2021oandoCOCP-49-2022.o o Mr.oJaswinderoSingh,oAdvocate,oforoo Mr.oSuniloMallan,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitioneroo inoCWP-26964-2021oandoCOCP-113-2022oandoo forotheorespondentoinoCWP-15723-2021.o o o o Ms.oNiharikaoSharma,oAAG,oPunjab.oo o Mr.oTusharoSharma,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2oinoo CWP-15723-2021oandoCWP-4580-2021.oo o o o o o Mr.oRahuloSoi,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentoNo.5.o o o o Mr.oRiteshoAggarwal,oAdvocate,oo forotheopetitioneroinoCRM-M-22688-2022oandoo forotheorespondentoNo.7.o o o o Mr.oSahiloKumar,oAdvocate,oforoo o o Mr.oNitinoKaushal,oAdvocate,ofororespondentoNo.8oinoo o o CWP-15723-2021,oCOCP-49-2022,oCWP-26964-2021oo andoCOCP-113-2022.oo o o o Mr.oSaliloSabhlok,oAdvocate,orespondentsoNo.9otoo12.o

o o o o o o o *****o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ.ooJo(ORAL)oo CM-2963-CWP-2022ooandoCM-2966-CWP-2022oinoCWP-15723-2021o o o Theoinstantoapplicationsohaveobeenofiledoforoimpleadingotheo applicantsoasopartyo-orespondentsoNo.9,o10oando11oasowelloasorespondento No.12orespectively.ooo o o o o o o o o o TheoapplicantsoclaimotoohaveoappliedoforoadmissionoinoMBBSo underotheoSportsoCategory.ooGradationoCertificatesohadobeenoissuedotoothemo byo theo Competento Authority,o theo counselling,o however,o undero Sportso Categoryo waso noto beingo undertakeno eveno thougho thereo iso noo ordero ofo restraint.oo o o o o oo Noticeoofotheoapplicationsowasoissuedoono04.03.2022,ohowever,o noo replyo haso beeno filedo too theo same.o He,o however,o submitso thato theo petitionerohasonotoclaimedoanyoreliefoagainstotheoapplicantsoandohence,otheyo areonotonecessaryoparties.oooo o o o o o o o o Learnedocounseloforotheoapplicants,ohowever,osubmitsothatoheo onlyowishesotooassistotheoCourtoforoexpeditiousodecisionoinotheomatteroando doesonotointendotoofileoanyoreply.ooo o o o o o o o Noo seriouso oppositiono iso raisedo byo theo counselo foro theo petitioner.o o o o o o o o o o o oooooooooooAccordingly,otheopresentoapplicationsoareoallowed.o o o o Applicantso areo impleadedo aso respondentso No.9o too 12.oo oo o AmendedoMemooofoPartiesoisotakenoonorecord.oo o o o TheoRegistryoisodirectedotootagotheosameoatoappropriateoplace.oo

Mainocaseso oo Aobatchoofosevenopetitionsoisobeingodecidedobyoaocommono orderosinceotheocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoareoadoidemothatoissueo involvedoinotheopresentobatchoofopetitionsocanobeodecidedobyoaocommono order.oTheodetailsoofotheocasesoareotabulatedoasounder:-o o Sr.o Writo Petitiono Titleoo No.oo Numberoo 1o CWP-15723-PIYUSHAo MODIo V/So STATEo OFo 2021oo PUNJABoANDoOTHERSo 2o COCP-49-2022oo PIYUSHAoMODIoV/SoPARMINDERoPALo SINGHoSANDHUoANDoANRo 3o CWP-26964-SEHAJBEERoBHANDALoV/SoSTATEoOFo 2021oo PUNJABoANDoORSo 4o COCP-113-SEHAJBEERo BHANDALo V/So AJOYo 2022oo SHARMAoANDoOTHERSo 5o CWP-4580-MANUREETo SINGHo V/So STATEo OFo 2021oo PUNJABoANDoORSo 6o CWP-9784-GURJEEVoSINGHoRIARoANDoORSoV/So 2022oo STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo 7o CRM-M-NETBALLo PROMOTIONo 22688-2022oo ASSOCIATIONo (REGD)o V/So THEo DIRECTORoSPORTS,DEPARTMENToOFo SPORTS,SECTORo63,MOHALIo o oo Foro theo facilityo ofo reference,o factso haveo beeno takeno fromo CWPo No.15723-2021o titledo 'Piyushao Modio Vs.o Stateo ofo Punjabo ando others.'o o o oo o Theo writo petitiono raiseso ao challengeo too theo lettero datedo

07.06.2021o(AnnexureoP-9)owherebyotheorespondentoNo.3o–otheoDirectoro Sports,o Departmento ofo Sports,o Punjab,o haso declinedo issuanceo ofo o theo SportsoGradationoCertificateotootheopetitionerowhoohadoparticipatedoinotheo tournamento organizedo byo theo Netballo Promotiono Associationo –o respondento No.7.o Ito haso beeno conveyedo througho theo aforesaido

communicationothatothereoareotwooOrganizationsonamelyoPunjaboNetballo Associationo ando Netballo Promotiono Association.o Outo ofo theseo twoo organizations,o theo Punjabo Netballo Association,o Punjabo iso statedo too beo affiliatedo witho theo Olympico Associationo whicho aso pero theo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo Stateo ofo Punjabo iso too beo reado aso Punjabo Olympico Association.o Ito iso furthero averredo ino theo aforesaido communicationothatotheoNetballoPromotionoAssociationoisonotoaffiliatedo withotheoOlympicoAssociationoi.e.otheoPunjaboOlympicoAssociationoando thato ao disputeo intero seo amongsto botho theseo Netballo Associationso iso pendingoconsiderationobeforeotheoPunjaboandoHaryanaoHighoCourtoando untilotheosaidolisoisodecided,otheoSportsogradationoofotheoplayersowhoowono medaloinoNetballogameoinoOpenoLeveloTournamentoisonotopossible.oAo furthero directiono haso beeno soughto byo theo petitionerso too directo theo respondentsotooissueoSportsoGradationoCertificateoinotermsoofotheoSportso Policyoissuedobyotheorespondentosoothatotheopetitioneromayotakeoadvantageo thereofo ino variouso competitiveo examinationso oro admissiono ino courseso underotheoSportsoCategory.ooo o o TheopetitioneroclaimsotoobeoaoplayeroofoNetballoandohavingo thparticipatedo ino theo 19 o Allo Indiao Intero Zonalo Netballo Championshipo

(2020),ohadosecuredoGoldoMedal/FirstoPositionoinotheosaidoChampionship.o thTheoCertificateo(AnnexuresoP-1)oshowsothatotheoaforesaido19 oAlloIndiao Intero Zonalo Netballo Championshipo (Women)o waso organizedo byo theo NetballoPromotionoAssociationo(Regd.)oPunjab,owhichoisodulyoaffiliatedo witho Netballo Federationo ofo Indiao ando alsoo witho theo Indiano Olympico Associationo aso wello aso Internationalo Netballo Federationo ando Asiano NetballoFederation.oTheosaidoChampionshipoisoalsoorecognizedobyotheo

MinistryoofoYouthoAffairso&oSports,oGovernmentoofoIndia.oTheoeventoino th thquestionowasoheldoono5 oando6 oFebruaryo2020.oTheopetitionerohadoalsoo participatedoinovariousoNetballocompetitionsoduringoheroschoolodays.oTheo detailsoofotheosaidoTournaments/Championshipsoinowhichotheopetitionero participatedoatovariousolevelsoareoextractedoasounder:-o Gameoo Team,o Nameo ofo Placeoo Dateoo Positionoo througho Competitionoo whicho theo playero playedoo Netballoo D.A.V.o Zoneo Patialao Patialao 03.08.2017o Firsto Publico SchooloGameso tooo positionooo School,o Undero–o17o 04.08.2017o Patialaooo Netball Zoneo Districto Patialao 29.08.2017o Firsto Patialao Schoolo tooo positiono Games,o 06.09.2017o Patialao Undero –o17o2017-18o rdNetball Districto 63 o Punjabo TarnoTaranoo 06.11.2017o Particip Patialaoo Stateo Inter-tooo atedoo Districto 10.11.2017o SchooloGameso under-17o 2017-18o Netball Zoneo PatialaoDistricto Patialao 04.09.2018o Firsto Patialao SchooloGameso tooo positiono under-17o 07.09.2018o 2018-19o thoNetball Districto 64 Punjabo Srio 10.10.2018o Particip Patialao Stateo Inter-Muktsaro tooo atedoo Districto Sahibo 14.10.2018o SchooloGameso under-17o 2018-19o thoNetball Punjabo 64 Punjabo Durago 24.12.2018o Particip Stateo Inter-Chattishgar tooo atedoo Districto ho 27.12.2018o SchooloGameso under-17o 2018-19o Netball Zoneo PatialaoDistricto Patialao 29.08.2019o Firsto Patialao SchooloGameso tooo positiono under-17o 30.08.2019o

2019-20o thoNetball Districto 65 Punjabo Sangruro 17.10.2019o Secondo Patialao Stateo Inter-tooo Positionoo Districto 22.10.2019o SchooloGameso under-17o 2019-20o rdNetball Punjaboo 3 oNorthoZoneo Maio 28.12.2019o Secondo Netballo Sarkhanao tooo positiono Championshipo Bathindao 30.12.2019o 2019-20oo thNetball Northo 19 o Allo Indiao Anandpuro 05.02.2020o Secondo Zoneo Inter-Zonalo Sahibo tooo positiono Netballo 06.02.2020o Championshipo Womenoo 2019-20o Senioro oo o o ItoisoaverredothatotheoGovernmentoofoPunjab,oDepartmentoofo Sportso&oYouthoAffairsohadoissuedoitsoSportsoGradationoPolicyodatedo

10.11.1997oasoperowhichotheosportsmen/womenowereoentitledotooaoSportso Gradationo Certificateo ando too claimo reservationso ofo seatso foro sportsmen/womeno ino technical/medicalo Institutionso ando preferentialo treatmentoinoserviceoofotheoStateoGovernment.oTheopetitioneroclaimsothato sheoisoentitledotoobeoissuedoaoSportsoGradationoCertificateoinoGradeoBo(iv)o thereof.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosaidopolicyoisoreproducedoasounder:-o o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo GRADEoBo

(iv)ooo SenioroandoJunioroNationaloChampionshipoorganisedo byorecognizedooNationaloFederationoofothatogamesounderotheo bannero ofo Indiano Olympico Associationo whereo ato leasto 15o Statesohaveoparticipated."oooo o

o o Itoisostatedothatotheosportsodisciplineowhichoareoeligibleoforo beingoconsideredoforoSportsoGradationoCertificatesohaveobeenomentionedo inoparagraphoNo.3oandotheogameoofoNetballoisoincludedoinotheoaforesaido CircularovideoMemooNo.47/26/83-ISS/1103odatedo05.06.2003.oTheosportso disciplineo ofo Netballo thuso waso incorporatedo aso parto ofo theo aforesaido policy.oo o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerofurtheromakesoaoreferenceo too theo Memoo No.47/26/83-ISS/1457o datedo 18.08.2008o issuedo byo theo GovernmentoofoPunjab,oDepartmentoofoSportso&oYouthoServicesowhicho provideso foro reservationso ofo seatso foro sportsmen/womeno ino technical/medicalo ando preferentialo treatmento ino serviceo ofo theo Stateo Government.oTheoaforesaidocommunicationowasoissuedotoostreamlineotheo processoofogradationoandothatoonlyotheogenuineosportspersonomayogetotheo gradationoforotheocategoryoofotheofollowing:-o o o "Categoryo'B'o

(i)k GradationoCertificateoshouldobeoawardedoonlyotootheo firsto threeo positiono holderso ofo theo Senioro Nationalo Championship,o Nationalo Games,o Junioro Worldo Championship,o Allo Indiao Intero Universitieso Competitions/Nationalo Championshipso undero 19,o Nationalo Schoolo Gameso undero 17/o Allo Indiao Ruralo Sports.o

(ii)k ooandotootheofirstothreeopositionoholdersoofoNationalo Gamesowhereotheocompetitionoheldoamongstoeightooro moreothanoeightoteams."ooo oo o o o o Itoisothusostatedothatoevenothoughotheoinitialopolicyodocumento datedo05.12.1997ocontemplatedoforoaoSenioroandoJunioroChampionshipo

andowasorecognizedobyotheoNationaloFederation,othereoshouldobeoatoleasto 15o Stateso too haveo participatedo ino theo saido event,o sucho numbero ofo participatingoStatesowasoreducedotoo8oteamsobyosubsequentocorrigendum.o TheoGovernmentoofoPunjabovideoitsomemoodatedo08.08.2018,ohadoheldo thatoforotheoissuanceoofoaoGradationoCertificateoinoCategoryoB,oaopositiono holderoofotheogamesowhereocompetitionoamongstomoreothano8oteamsohaso beeno o held,o theo teamso too haveo securedo firsto threeo positionsowouldo beo entitledo too theo aforesaido gradationo certificate.o Heo referso too theo playero profileoformoofoNorthoZoneoissuedobyotheoNetballoFederationoofoIndiaoando hasoappendedotheosameoalongowithotheopresentopetitiono(AnnexureoP-7)otoo contendothatotheoaforesaidocertificateoclearlyoshowsothatomoreothano10o thteamso hado participatedo ino theo 19 o Allo Indiao Intero Zonalo Leagueo Tournament.oHeosubmitsothatotheopetitionerowasothusoeligibleoinotermsoofo theo policyo issuedo byo theo respondent-Stateo foro issuanceo ofo ao Gradeo Bo Sportso Gradationo Certificateo ando too claimo eligibilityo foro preferentialo treatmento ino Governmento Serviceo and/oro admissiono undero technical/medicaloquota.oo o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersofurtherosubmitsothatotheo petitionerohadosubmittedoheroapplicationoalongowithodocuments/certificateo issuedobyotheoNetballoFederationoofoIndiao(AnnexureoP-11)owhereinoitohaso beeno informedo thato Netballo Promotiono Associationo iso theo onlyo AssociationowhichoisorecognizedobyotheoNetballoFederationoofoIndia.oHeo furthero submitso thato sinceo theo petitionero hado participatedo ino theo Intero Zonalo event,o theo Departmento ofo Sportso ando Youtho Services,o video communicationoMemoodatedo01.08.2016,ohadodirectedothatoCategoryoBo GradationoCertificateowouldobeoawardedoonlyotootheofirstothreeopositiono

holdersoofotheoSenioroNationaloChampionship,oNationaloGames,oJunioro WorldoChampionships,oAlloIndiaoInteroZonaloLeagueoTournamento(Onlyo foro theo participantso fromo Punjab)o ando Allo Indiao Intero Universityo Competitions,o Nationalo Championshipso under-19,o Nationalo Schoolo Gamesounder-27oandoAlloIndiaoRuraloSports.oHeothusocontendsothatobyo virtueoofotheoaforesaidocommunication,oanoAlloIndiaoInteroZonaloLeagueo TournamentohasobeenoequatedotooaoSenioroTournamentoandoasosuch,otheo participantso whoo hado participatedo ino theo Intero Zonalo Evento areo heldo entitledo too theo Gradationo Certificates.o Sinceo theo evento ino whicho theo petitionersohaveoparticipatedotookoplaceoinotheoyearo2020oi.e.oafterotheo issuanceoofotheoaforesaidoMemoobyotheoStateoofoPunjab,otheocertificateo issuedo too theo petitionero oughto too beo consideredo foro issuanceo ofo ao GradationoCertificateoinotermsoofotheoSportsoGradationoPolicy.oHeofurthero submitso thato theo similaro issueo haso alreadyo beeno decidedo byo ao Singleo BenchoofothisoCourtoinorelationotootheogameoofoNetballoinoCWPoNo.16604o ofo2019otitledo'SimranjeetoSinghoandoothersoVs.oStateoofoPunjaboando others'oandoCWPoNo.9842oofo2020otitledo'HarsahijoSinghoVs.ooStateoofo Punjaboandoothers'odecidedoono28.04.2022oandotheorespondent-Stateohado beenodirectedotooissueoGradationoCertificatesotootheoplayersowhoowereo petitionersothereinoandohadoparticipatedoinotheoeventsoorganizedobyotheo NetballoPromotionoAssociationoandogradationocertificateowasonotobeingo issuedoforotheosameoreasons.ooo oo LearnedoStateocounselocontendsothatotheopetitionersoareonoto entitledotootheoissuanceoofotheoSportsoGradationoCertificateoandothatotheo sameo haveo rightlyo beeno declined.o Sheo submitso thato theo officeo ofo theo Director,oSports,oDepartmentoofoSports,oPunjabohasolaidodownocertaino

conditionsoinotheoinstructionsodatedo24.12.1997oasopre-requisitesowhicho areonecessaryoforoissuanceoofosuchoSportsoGradationoCertificates.oAocopyo ofo sucho instructionso haso beeno attachedo aso Annexureo R-1.o Sheo furthero contendsothatooneoofotheopre-requisitesoforoissuanceoofoSportsoGradationo CertificateoisothatotheoconcernedoSportsoAssociationomustobeorecognizedo witho theo Punjabo Olympico Associationo ando thato sinceo theo Netballo PromotionoAssociationohadonotobeenorecognizedobyotheoPunjaboOlympico Association,o henceo theo petitionerso areo noto entitledo too seeko Sportso GradationoCertificateoonotheostrengthoofohavingoparticipatedoinoanoevento organizedobyotheoNetballoPromotionoAssociation.ooSheodrawsoattentionoofo thiso Courto too theo instructionso datedo 24.12.1997o (Annexureo R-1).o Theo relevantoclauseothereoforeadsoasounder:-o "2.oo Sportso Associationo musto beo recognizedo byo Punjabo OlympicoAssociation."oo o o o Itoisoalsoocontendedothatoaoclarificationowasosoughtofromotheo Punjabo Olympico Associationo ando thato video Ref.No.POA/1188o datedo

16.11.2017,oitohasobeenoinformedothatotheoPunjaboOlympicoAssociationo doesonotorecognizeotheoNetballoPromotionoAssociationoandothatoitoonlyo recognizesotheoPunjaboNetballoAssociation.oItoisoalsooinformedothatotheo Punjabo Netballo Associationo hado beeno registeredo video Registrationo No.MLK/Regn./226o ino theo yearo 2010o whereaso theo Netballo Promotiono AssociationowasoregisteredovideoRegistrationoNo.30oinotheoyearo2017-18o only.oo o o Ao similaro stando haso alsoo beeno adoptedo byo theo Punjabo OlympicoAssociationoandoitoisoaverredothatoonoaccountoofotheoNetballo

Promotiono Associationo noto beingo recognizedo byo theo Punjabo Olympico Association,otheoplayersowhoohadoparticipatedoinotheoeventoorganizedobyo theoNetballoPromotionoAssociationocannotoclaimoGradationoCertificateo sinceo theo affiliation/recognitiono ofo sucho sportso bodyo witho theo Punjabo Olympico Associationo iso ao pre-requisiteo foro issuanceo ofo ao Gradationo Certificate.oo o o Learnedo counselo foro addedo respondentso No.9o too 12o alsoo reiteratesotheosubmissionsoadvancedobyotheolearnedoStateocounseloandobyo theo learnedo Counselo appearingo foro theo Punjabo Olympico Association.oo However,o heo furthero contendso thato soo faro aso theo judgmento datedo

28.04.2022opassedoinoCWPoNo.16604oofo2019otitledo'SimranjeetoSingho andoothersoVs.oStateoofoPunjaboandoothers'oandoCWPoNo.9842oofo2020o titledo'HarsahijoSinghoVs.ooStateoofoPunjaboandoothers'oisoconcerned,o theoaforesaidojudgmentohasobeenopassedoonlyoasoaoone-timeomeasureoando theoratiooofotheosaidojudgmentocannotobeoappliedoinofavouroofoanyoothero person.oo ooooo o o Controvertingotheoobjectionsotakenobyotheocounseloappearingo onobehalfoofotheorespondents,otheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroisoalsoo joinedobyotheocounselorepresentingorespondentoNo.7.oItoisocontendedobyo theocounseloinounisonothatotheoinstructionsodatedo24.12.1997o(Annexureo R-1)o appendedo alongo witho theo replyo ofo theo Stateo areo beingo wronglyo interpretedobyotheorespondents.oTheoaforesaidoinstructionsoareoapplicableo ino relationo too inclusion/exclusiono ofo ao gameo ando noto ino relationo too gradationoofoaosportingoevent.oTheoaffiliationowithotheoPunjaboOlympicoo Associationo aso ao pre-requisiteo iso prescribedo foro gradationo ofo ao gameo

whereasotheoPolicyodocumento(AnnexureoP-2)odealsowithotheoGradationo Certificateoofoaosportingoevent.oTheyosubmitothatoeventoofoNetballohaso alreadyo beeno recognizedo aso pero theo communicationo datedo 05.06.2003o (Annexureo P-3)o ando aso such,o theo aforesaido clauseo wouldo noto beo applicableoinotheopresentocase.oHeofurtherodrawsoattentionotooparagraphso No.8o ando9o ofo theoaforesaidotermso ando conditions/pre-requisiteo whicho readsothus:-o "8.o Committeeo mentionedo ino parao -o 7o willo takeo intoo considerationo ifo theo particularo disciplineo iso recognizedo disciplineoinoAsianoandoOlympicoGames,opopularityoofotheo game,oparticipationolevel,operformanceolevelowillobeogiveno specialoemphasis.o o

9.o Allo Sportso Associationso recognisedo byo POA/Punjabo SportsoCouncilotoofulfillotheoaboveomentionedocriterias/pre-requisitesoandosubmitoinowritingotootheoDirectorateoofoSportso Punjabo byo 15o December,o 1997o aftero whicho decisiono foro inclusion/exclusionoofoaogameoinotheogradationolistowillobeo takenobyotheoCommitteeowhichowillobeofinaloandobindingoono alloSportsoAssociations."oo o o oo Byoreferringotootheoabove,oheocontendsothatoaoCommitteeoaso stipulatedoinoparagraphoNo.7oofotheoaforesaidotermsoandoconditions,oiso requiredo too takeo intoo considerationo ifo theo particularo disciplineo iso ao recognizedodisciplineoinoAsianoandoOlympicoGames,opopularityoofotheo game,oparticipationolevel,operformanceoleveloetc.oandoitofurtherospecifieso thato Allo Sportso Associationso recognizedo byo Punjabo Olympico Association/PunjaboSportsoCounciloareorequiredotoofulfillotheocriteria/pre-requisiteso ando submito ino writingo too theo Directoro ofo o Sportso Punjabo

whereafteroaodecisionoisotoobeotakenoregardingo"inclusion/exclusionoofoao gameoinotheogradationolist."oHeothusosubmitsothatoaoconjointoreadingoofo theoaforesaido twoo clauseso clearlyo showsothatotheopre-requisiteso asopero AnnexureoR-1oareonotoreferableotootheogradationoofoaosportingoeventoandoito onlyorelatesotooinclusion/exclusionoofoaogameounderotheosportsogradationo policy.oHence,otheorelianceoplacedobyotheorespondentsoonoconditionoNo.2o ofo theo aforesaido termso ando conditionso abouto affiliationo witho Punjabo Olympico Associationo iso misconceived.o Theyo furthero contendo thato theo petitionersofulfillotheoconditionsothatohaveobeenoprescribedoinotheopolicyo datedo24.12.1997oasomodifiedoandothatotheosaidopolicyodoesonotoprescribeo anyoconditionosuchothatotheoAssociationsoorganizingosportingoeventsomusto beo affiliated/recognizedo byo theo Punjabo Olympico Association.o Theo petitionero fallingo ino categoryo (iv)o ofo theo aforesaido policyo ando havingo participatedoinodifferentotournaments,otheogradationocertificateooughtotoo haveobeenoissuedoinotermsothereof.o o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoando haveo goneo througho theo documentso appendedo alongo witho theo presento petition.oo o o o Theo issueo whicho thuso ariseso foro considerationo iso aso too whetherotheopetitionersoinotheowritopetitionsoareoentitledotootheoSportso GradationoCertificatesoforohavingoparticipatedoinotheosportsoeventowhicho wasodulyorecognizedobyotheoNetballoFederationoofoIndiaoasowelloasobyotheo Indiano Olympico Associationo ando alsoo byo theo Internationalo Netballo FederationoandoAsianoNetballofederationoorothatotheoaforesaidoGradationo Certificateo cano beo deniedo merelyo becauseo theo aforesaido evento waso conductedobyoanoOrganizationowhichowasonotoaffiliatedotootheoPunjabo

Olympico Associationo notwithstandingo itso affiliationo witho theo Nationalo Federationoi.e.oNetballoFederationoofoIndiaoasowelloasotheoIndianoOlympico AssociationoinotermsoofotheoSportsoGradationoCertificateoPolicyodatedo

10.12.1997oasoamendedofromotimeotootime.oo o o Ao perusalo ofo theo aforesaido policyo showso thato soo faro aso Grade-Bocertificateoisoconcerned,oaosportspersonowhoohasoparticipatedo ando achievedo positionso ino theo tournamento mentionedo thereundero areo entitledotooaoGradationoCertificate.oTheoInter-UniversityoChampionshipo haso beeno includedo aso ao sportingo evento againsto whicho ao Gradationo Certificateocanobeoissuedotheorequirementoforotheosameobeingothatotheo evento musto haveo nineo oro moreo teams.o Ito iso noto theo objectiono ofo theo respondentsothatotheosportingoeventodoesonotofalloinotheosaidocategory.oTheo onlyoobjectionoraisedopertainsotootheoNetballopromotionoAssociationonoto beingo registeredo witho theo Punjabo Olympico Association.o Theoobjectiono raisedobyotheorespondentsodoesonotoinspireoconfidenceoandoisorejectedoforo theofollowingoreasons:-o

(i)k Theopolicyoofo1997odealsowithotheocriteriaoofograntoofo SportoGradationoCertificatesotootheosportsopersonsowhoo participated/achievedo positionso ino theo tournament/o competition/championships.o Theo policyo doeso noto prescribeo theo requiremento thato theo evento oughto too beo conductedoonlyobyoanoassociationowhichoisorecognizedobyo theoPunjaboOlympicoAssociation.o

(ii)k TheorequirementoforotheoGradationoCertificateoofo"Gradeo B"oisothatotheoSenioroandoJunioroNationaloChampionshipso

areorequiredotoobeorecognizedobyotheoNationaloFederationo ofo thato gameo undero theo bannero ofo Indiano Olympico Association.oAoperusaloofotheocertificateoshowsothatotheo evento waso organizedo byo theo Netballo Promotiono Associationo whicho iso affiliatedo witho theo Netballo FederationoofoIndiaowhichoiso ao Nationalo Federationo ofo thato gameo ando theo evento waso alsoo recognizedo byo theo IndianoOlympicoAssociationoasowelloasobyotheoMinistryo ofoYouthoAffairsoandoSports,oGovernmentoofoIndia.oThus,o theorequisiteoofotheochampionshipobeingorecognizedobyo theoNationaloFederationoandobeingounderotheobanneroofoo IndianoOlympicoAssociationostandsofulfilled.oo

(iii)k Clauseo (iv)o ofo theo aforesaido Policyo datedo 10.12.1997o prescribeso foro theo requisiteso foro certificationo byo theo SportsoDepartmentoofoPunjab.oNoosuchorequisiteoofotheo eventobeingoorganizedobyoaoSportsoFederationorecognizedo byotheoPunjaboOlympicoAssociationohasobeenoheldotoobeo ano essentialo pre-requisiteo foro granto ofo certificate.o Theo documentodatedo24.12.1997oappendedoasoAnnexureoR-1o byotheorespondent-Stateoprescribesotheorequirementoforo considerationo ofo ao sportso gradationo ofo ao gameo byo theo SportsoDepartment.oTheoaforesaidoinstructionsohaveobeeno issuedo ono 24.12.1997o foro considerationo foro Sportso Gradation.oTheosaidoinstructionsoareonotostatedotoobeoino supersessiono ofo theo instructionso ofo 10.12.1997o whicho relateotooissuanceoofoSportsoGradationoCertificates.oTheo

Gradationo ofo ao gameo undero theo instructionso datedo

24.12.1997oisothusonototheosameoasoaoSportsoGradationo Certificateo issuedo foro participation/beingo ao positiono holderoinoaosportingoevent.oo

(iv)k Theo instructionso ofo 24.12.1997o areo essentiallyo prescribingotheorequirementoofoaogameotoobeogradedobyo theoDepartmentoofoSportsoi.e.oinclusion/exclusionothereofo fromotheoSportsoGradationoPolicy.oIoamosupportedoinomyo aforesaido viewo fromo ao completeo readingo ofo aforesaido instructionso datedo 24.12.1997o whicho haso usedo theo expressionosportsoassociationoandonowhereodealsowithoao sportingoevent.oBesides,otheoreadingoofoallotheoclausesoofo aforesaido instructionso datedo24.12.1997odoo noto leadotoo theo interpretationo aso iso beingo portrayedo byo theo respondent-StateoofoPunjaboandoratherosuggestsothatotheo aforesaido pre-requisiteso areo prescribedo onlyo foro inclusion/exclusionoofoaoparticularosportsodisciplineotoobeo added/excludedofromotheoSportsoGradationoPolicyoofotheo StateoofoPunjab.oo

(v)k Thatoevenothoughotheoclaimoofotheopetitionersowasoforo issuanceoofotheoSportsoGradationoCertificatesoinotermsoofo theopolicyodatedo10.12.1997,ohowever,otheorespondentso haveonowhereopleadedoorohaveoclaimedothatotheoaforesaido policyo iso noto applicableo foro issuanceo ofo theo Sportso Gradationo Certificates.o Aso ao mattero ofo fact,o theo replyo filedobyotheorespondentsoisoevasive.oTheoapplicabilityoofo

theoSportsoGradationoCertificateoPolicyodatedo10.12.1997o iso thuso noto disputedo noro denied.o Soo mucho so,o ino theo responseofiledoonobehalfoofotheorespondents,otheyohaveo notoevenodaredotooinformoasotoowhetherotheoinstructionso datedo 24.12.1997o areo ino supersessiono ofo theo Sportso GradationoPolicyodatedo10.12.1997ooronot.oItoseemsothatoao deliberateoattemptotoocreateoconfusionohasobeenomadeobyo theorespondents'oofficialsothemselves.oIfotheoaboveosaido instructionso datedo 24.12.1997o hado beeno issuedo ino supersessionoofotheopolicyodatedo10.12.1997,othereowaso noo occasiono oro reasono whyo theo respondentso haveo noto statedo soo ino theiro replyo oro ino anyo countero affidavit.o Moreover,otheocompleteopolicyodocumentohasoalsoonoto beenoappended.oTheosaidoomissionocannotobeoconstruedo asoanooversight.oo

(vi)k Thatotheofactsopleadedoinotheopetitionsohaveoneitherobeeno disputedo noro deniedo byo theo respondent-Departmento ino theiroreply.oo

(vii)k Thato theo emphasiso foro issuanceo ofo ao Sportso Gradationo Certificateo iso ono theo levelo ato whicho ao tournamento iso organized.o Onceo theo Indiano Olympico Associationo iso associatedo witho theo evento ino questiono alongo witho theo Nationalo Federationo ofo thato game,o thereo cano beo noo legitimateobasisoforodenyingoSportsoGradationoCertificateo too ao sportspersono merelyo becauseo ofo theo saido evento havingo beeno conductedo undero ao bannero ofo ao sportingo

federationowhichoisonotorecognizedobyotheoStateoOlympico Association.o

(viii)k Thato acto ofo respondentso ino wantingo too reado intoo ao mandatoryo conditiono ofo theo sportingo evento beingo recognizedobyo theo Punjabo Olympico Associationo and/oro theoinstructionsodatedo24.12.1997oamountsotoorewritingo theo policyo conditions/requirementso ofo theo policyo datedo

10.12.1997oandotooprescribeootheorequirements/eligibilityo thereunderowhichoareonotosooprovided.oTheoHighoCourto wouldo noto ino exerciseo ofo itso powerso undero Articleso 226/227o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao reado eligibilityo conditionso intoo ao policyo documento thato haveo noto beeno prescribedobyotheoGovernmentoitselfoasoitowouldoamounto toofailingoofotheopolicyodecision.oo

(ix)k Thato othero sportsperson(s)o whoo hado participatedo ino eventso heldo byo theo Netballo Promotiono Associationo affiliatedo too theo Netballo Federationo ofo Indiao ando recognizedo byo theo Indiano Olympico Associationo haveo alreadyo beeno directedo too beo grantedo sportso gradationo certificateso byo thiso Courto video judgmento datedo

28.04.2022o passedo ino CWP-16604-2019.o Thereo iso noo reasono whyo theo petitionerso hereino oughto too beo deniedo sucho benefit.o Eveno thougho ito haso beeno statedo ino theo aforesaido judgmento thato theo sameo iso aso ao one-timeo measureoandowouldonotobeocitedoasoaoprecedent,ohowever,o notwithstandingotheoaforesaidorecitaloofotheojudgment,oito

stillo haso itso persuasiveo value.o Theo entitlemento ofo theo petitionerso too theo issuanceo ofo Sportso Gradationo Certificateso iso beingo consideredo aftero dealingo witho theo objectionsoraisedobyotheorespondentsoandotheosameonoto findingofavourowithothisoCourt.oo

(x)k Thato theo objectiono raisedo byo theo respondent-Stateo ifo acceptedowouldoleadotooanoanomalousosituationosinceonoo sportspersonoparticipatingoinotheoSportoofoNetballowouldo everobeoissuedoaosportsogradationocertificate.oTheoPunjabo Olympico Associationo doeso noto recognizeo theo Netballo Promotiono Associationo ando theo Punjabo Netballo AssociationowhichoisorecognizedobyotheoPunjaboOlympico Associationoisonotorecognized/affiliatedowithotheoNetballo Federationo ofo Indiao and/oro theo Indiano Olympico Association.o Hence,o ifo ano evento iso organizedo byo theo Punjabo Netballo Association,o theo playerso participatingo thereinowouldoalsoonotobeoeligibleoforoissuanceoofoaosportso gradationocertificatesosinceotheoeventoinoquestionowouldo noto beo recognizedo byo theo Nationalo Federationo ofo theo gameoandotheoIndianoOlympicoAssociation.oDenialotooao sportspersono ino ao sportso disciplineo ofo anyo Sportso Gradationo Certificateo cannoto beo theo objectiveo ofo theo SportsoGradationoPolicyowhichointendsotoorecognizeotheo sportingocontributionoofoaosportsperson.oTheostandoofotheo respondent-Stateo ofo Punjabo thuso sufferso fromo non-

o oo o o Accordingly,otheofollowingowritopetitionsoareoallowed:-o o Sr.o Writo Petitiono Titleoo No.oo Numberoo 1o CWP-15723-PIYUSHAo MODIo V/So STATEo OFo 2021oo PUNJABoANDoOTHERSo 2o CWP-26964-SEHAJBEERoBHANDALoV/SoSTATEoOFo 2021oo PUNJABoANDoORSo o o 3o CWP-4580-MANUREETo SINGHo V/So STATEo OFo 2021oo PUNJABoANDoORSo 4o CWP-9784-GURJEEVoSINGHoRIARoANDoORSoV/So 2022oo STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo o o oo Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersosubmitothatoinoviewoofo theoaforesaidowritopetitionsohavingobeenoallowed,otheyodoonotopressotheo followingopetitionsoandotheosameomayobeodisposedoofoasonotopressed.oo o Sr.o Writo Petitiono Titleoo No.oo Numberoo 1o COCP-49-2022oo PIYUSHAoMODIoV/SoPARMINDERoPALo SINGHoSANDHUoANDoANRo 2o COCP-113-SEHAJBEERo BHANDALo V/So AJOYo 2022oo SHARMAoANDoOTHERSo 3o CRM-M-NETBALLo PROMOTIONo 22688-2022oo ASSOCIATIONo (REGD)o V/So THEo DIRECTORoSPORTS,DEPARTMENToOFo SPORTS,SECTORo63,MOHALIo o o oo Accordingly,otheoaboveopetitionsoareodisposedoofoasohavingo notopressed.oo oo Allo othero pendingo applicationso shallo stando disposedo ofo

o Ao photocopyo ofo theo ordero beo placedo ono theo fileo ofo eacho connectedocase.ooo o Februaryo15,o2023o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo rajoarorao o o o o o o JUDGEo Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oYes/Noo Whetheroreportableoo o :oYes/Nooo