Delhi HC directs Sports Authority of India to investigate arbitariness by PCI in selecting another candidate as alleged by Paralympian Naresh Sharma

The Delhi High Court today directed the Sports Authority of India and Ministry of Youth and Sports Affair to investigate arbitariness in selecting another candidate by the Paralaympic Committee of India as alleged by Paralympian Naresh Sharma.

Advocate Varun Singh appearing for the petitioner submitted that there has been a favouritism on the part of the PCI while selecting Mr Deepak in R7 event.

The Bench led by Justice Rekha Palli observed that there has been malpractice and favouritism on the part of PCI because though the Serbia event was recognised by World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) but it was not in the list of international para shooting events.

The court further acknowledged that PCI had sent Mr Deepak to Serbia so that he would become eligible for the paralympics. But on contrary PCI itself accepted that Serbia grand prix is neither mentioned in IPC policy nor in PCI's criteria and selection policy.

The Court further noted that there was exchange of personal email between the Chairman SPC shooting and senior manager IPC particularly regarding Deepak wherein PCI decided how to make Mr Deepak eligible for the R7 event.

The plea filed by Paralympian Naresh Kumar Sharma has sought directions to the Paralympic Committee of India to allow him to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics, 2020 in R7 event.

The petitioner a 5 time Paralympian (Rifle Shooter) has alleged arbitariness against the Paralympic Committee of India in the selection of athletes for the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020, Japan.

The petition filed through Advocates Amit Kumar Sharma and Satyam Singh Rajput further states that the Selection Process is not fair and transparent since the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 obligates the National Sports Federation to judiciously select players to represent India on merits for major International events to enhance National prestige and bring glory to the country.

The petitioner says that unfortunately, the Selection Committee of PCI had violated the said Code by not adhering to its purpose and objective. The Selection Committee has ensured that the selection process is not fair and transparent.

The petitioner has submitted that the Selection Committee of PCI arbitrarily and without application of mind selected Deepak to participate in 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in R7 event in place of competent and deserving Naresh Kumar Sharma. Surprisingly, the Selection Committee PCI selected Deepak for his participation at Tokyo Paralympics not only in the R7 event but also in the events like R1, R3 and R6.

The petitioner has further submitted that Deepak "was sent to participate in Grand Prix Novi Sad WSPS 2021 (Serbia) without any notice to the public in general and shooters in particular with the sole objective to ensure that Mr. Deepak's average gets better than that of the petitioner irrespective of the fact that the said even was not amongst the list of International Sporting Events to which can be used to calculate average score of the shooter. Sending of selected shooter to Serbia clearly shows that the Selection Process of PCI is not fair and transparent."

It has further been submitted that the Selection Committee of PCI was biased towards the petitioner as they consciously and arbitrarily denied the petitioner his legitimate opportunity to participate in the R7 event at Tokyo Paralympics and deliberately did not take into consideration his actual average score.

Case Title: Naresh Kumar Singh vs Paralympic Committee of India and Ors