Khelo India Youth Games| High Court directs authorities to file reply on Delhi Gymnastics Association's plea for inclusion of names recommended by it
The plea has sought directions on the inclusion of the names recommended by it which include one gymnast for Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) and two Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) for the 5th Edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2022-2023 scheduled from January 31, 2023.
The Delhi High Court recently directed the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI), the Delhi Olympic Association (DOA), and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to file affidavits on a plea seeking the inclusion of the names recommended by the Delhi Gymnastics Association (DGA) for Khelo India Youth Games 2022-2023.
While directing the respondents to file affidavits, Justice Prathiba M. Singh listed the matter for further hearing on January 27.
The Delhi Gymnastics Association (DGA) through the present plea sought inclusion of the names recommended in its letter dated 5th January 2023, consisting of one gymnast for Men's Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) and two Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) in the 5th Edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2022-2023.
The petition was filed by DGA because in the recently held Junior National Artistic Gymnastic Championship in Kerala from December 30, 2022, to January 2, 2024, the petitioner's team from Delhi participated as per the Vacation bench order dated December 28, 2022, and was categorized as 'Delhi-B'. The team had received fourth (4th) position out of twenty teams from across India in Men's Artistic Gymnastics, and third (3rd) position out of seventeen teams from across India in Women's Artist Gymnastics.
Advocate Upender Thakur appearing for DGA submitted that the members of the association had been permitted to participate in the Junior National Artistic Gymnastic Championships in Kerala as Team B wherein they secured a "very high rank". He contended that because of Team B’s "good performance" in the said tournament, Delhi State became entitled to nominate one gymnast for MAG and two gymnasts for WAG from the quota allocation.
Thakur also referred to the Khelo games guidelines and claimed that the qualification system was based on the performance of teams and players in the Kerala Junior Nationals Artistic Gymnastics Championship.
He also submitted the 'Khelo India Youth Games' guidelines which specify the allocation of gymnast quotas based on their Junior National Artistic Gymnastic Championship team ranking.
On the contrary, counsel for the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) submitted that the members recommended by the petitioner association had already been included.
On December 28, a vacation bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva heard a plea filed by the Delhi Gymnastics Association (DGA) through Advocates Upender Thakur and Mohd Akram, contesting the GFI's notification dated December 12, 2022, which resulted in the expulsion of the DGA from the organization.
The single-judge bench had issued notice to GFI, DOA, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the plea and clarified that the allowance is only for this Championship and the same shall not be treated as a precedent.
"The DGA was denied access to its rights and privileges, including the ability to participate in GFI events, which included gymnastics-related sporting events", the plea stated.
Advocate Upender Thakur appearing for the association had submitted that the communication issued by GFI was in the teeth of the sporting spirit and jeopardized the sports of gymnastics in general and the morale or career of the budding gymnasts from Delhi in particular.
He had also 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. Furthermore, he had pleaded for permission to use the gymnastics team that had already been chosen to compete in the event.
Case Title: Delhi Gymnastics Association v. Gymnastics Federation of India & Ors.