Delhi High Court allows Gymnasts Association team to participate in National Junior Gymnastic Championship

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Synopsis

The plea claimed that DGA had been denied access to its rights and privileges, including the ability to participate in GFI events, which include gymnastics-related sporting events.

Last week, the Delhi High Court sought responses from the Delhi Olympic Association (DOA), the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) in response to a petition challenging the communication that expelled the Delhi Gymnastics Association (DGA) from GFI. As an interim measure, the High Court allowed the gymnasts associated association to participate in the upcoming National Junior Gymnastic Championship (Artistic) as Team-B.

A vacation bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva issued notice in the matter and clarified that the allowance is only for the purpose of this Championship and the same shall not be treated as a precedent.

The Delhi Gymnastics Association (DGA) filed the plea through Advocates Upender Thakur and Mohd Akram contesting the GFI's notification dated 12.12.2022 by which DGA was expelled from the organisation. The plea claimed that DGA has been denied access to its rights and privileges, including the ability to participate in GFI events, which include gymnastics-related sporting events.

Advocate Upender Thakur appearing for the association submitted that the communication issued by GFI is in the teeth of sporting spirit and jeopardizes the sports of gymnastics in general and morale or career of the budding gymnasts from Delhi in particular.

He argued that the team had been chosen for the next Junior National Gymnastics Artistic Competition, which would be held in Kerala, just before the expulsion notice was sent, and he pleaded for permission to use the gymnastics team that had already been chosen to compete in the event.

Case Title: Delhi Gymnastics Association Vs. Gymnastics Federation of India & Ors.