'Can't Discriminate': Delhi High Court Orders Sports Ministry To Enable Deaf Sportspersons To Apply For Khel Ratna
The Delhi High Court has made it clear that there can be no discrimination between persons with locomotor disability and those with hearing impairment.Justice Sachin Datta observed,“The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 read with Schedule thereto, leaves no scope of discrimination between persons having hearing impairment vis-a-vis those having physical/locomoter...
The Delhi High Court has made it clear that there can be no discrimination between persons with locomotor disability and those with hearing impairment.
Justice Sachin Datta observed,
“The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 read with Schedule thereto, leaves no scope of discrimination between persons having hearing impairment vis-a-vis those having physical/locomoter disability.”
The observation was made while dealing with a challenge to 'Scheme of Cash Awards for Medal Winners' framed by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, under which applications were invited for 'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, 2025'.
Among others, the scheme invited applications from medal winners in paralympics. However, the Petitioner alleged that there was no scope for deaf sportspersons to even apply for the conferment.
Significant to note that deaf athletes do not compete in the Paralympics based on their hearing loss alone, as deafness is not an eligible impairment category.
As such, the Petitioner flagged the lack of opportunity for deaf sportspersons, alleging discrimination and violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.
The High Court found merit in the contentions, stating that the aforesaid criteria “discriminates against deaf sportspersons vis-a-vis para sportspersons.”
It thus directed the Ministry to consider framing an appropriate criteria for conferring the Award to deaf sportspersons.
“Let the same be done expeditiously and so as to enable the deaf sportspersons to submit applications for the purpose of 'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, 2025'. Let the deadline/s for submission of the necessary application/s be extended suitably,” the Court ordered.
Appearance: Mr. Ajay Verma, Ms. Smriti S. Nair and Ms. Sneha Sejwal, Advs. for Petitioners; Mr. Premtosh K. Mishra, CGSC, Mr. Prarabdh Tiwari and Mr. Anurag Tiwari, Adv., UOI.
Case title: Vijender Singh & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1547
Case no.: W.P.(C) 12082/2025