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The Orissa High Court has directed the Centre to make all arrangements for the preparation and traveling for the Indian Under-18 Women’s Volleyball Team to participate in the “14th Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship”, scheduled to be held in June at the Nakhon Pathom City of Thailand.

A single-judge bench of Justice Biswanath Rath while expressing serious concern at the inaction of the Centre observed, “It is at this stage, this Court also considers the prestige of the Country involved herein. A Country having 175 crores of people even and at its position, if it fails in sending the contingency already selected to participate in the prestigious event like the 14th Asian Women’s U-18 Volleyball Championship, will not send a good signal.”

Court further added, “The Union of India is not even coming to assist the Court for involving a contest at their level. This Court records the bizarre affair in the cooperation of O.Ps.1 & 2 in such a serious matter in spite of two adjournments already granted.”

The present writ petition was filed by a Volleyball player from Odisha, Lasyamayee Mohanta who was selected to represent India U-18 Women’s Volleyball Team in the 14th Asian Women’s U-18 Volleyball Championship.

There is a serious allegation that even though there is no dispute with regard to players but due to some disputes involving the management of the Volleyball Federation of India pending at some other level, there is inaction on part of the authorities to send the team for the participation in the aforementioned competition, scheduled between June 6, 2022, to June 13, 2022, at Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.

It was alleged that in spite of the recommendation being made by O.P. 3 for sending the Indian U-18 Women Volleyball Team, there is no decision taken and thus, there is serious prejudice against the players. It also expressed displeasure that the country may be deprived of its participation and the country may be deprived of its participation in the process.

The counsel for the petitioner Advocate PK Rath, pressing hard on the Interlocutory Application, submitted that the players of this nature cannot be allowed to suffer for any latches and further even assuming there have been some disputes involving some other issues involving the Volleyball Federation of India, that should come in the way of neither selection or representing India in such important competition.

He further emphasized that unless interim protection is granted allowing participation of the contingency, India will go unrepresented in the 14th Asian Women's U-18 Volleyball Championship.

The matter was taken up initially on May 13, 2022, and considering the urgency involved, it was adjourned to May 17, 2022.

In the course of the hearing, Assistant Solicitor General of India, PK Parhi for the Union of India submitted that in spite of his best effort neither O.P.1. nor O.P.2 is responding in this situation.

Court observed, “There is no legal obstruction in sending the Indian contingency for participating in the 14th Asian Women's U-18 Volleyball Championship, though there have been some disputes pending with regard to the issues not related herein.”

Keeping in view the above, court opined that there is no objection coming from O.Ps.1 & 2 as of now and that the court was constrained to direct O.Ps. 1 & 2 to make all necessary arrangements for moving of the contingency.

“Looking to the Schedule prepared by the President, Thailand Volleyball Association at Nakhon Pathom, the Organisation of the Event and communicated to the President, Volleyball Federation of India appearing at Annexure-5, this Court directs O.Ps.1 & 2 to make all arrangements for the preparation and moving of the contingency prepared under Annexure-4 following the communication on the Schedule and the time frame in different aspect and also make necessary financial arrangements for their movement to participate in the 14th Asian Women’s U-18 Volleyball Championship including VISA facility, if any, by completing the entire exercise within three days from the date of communication of this order. In the meantime, O.P.3 is directed to keep the contingency selected list, vide Annexure-4 ready to proceed for their participation in the event,” observed the court.

Case Title: Lasyamayee Mohanta v. Union of India & Ors.