Sports Fraternity Suffers Due To Apathy From Maha Govt: Bombay High Court On Entry Of Women Swimmers' Team In National Games

The Bombay High Court recently expressed displeasure over the manner in which the Sports fraternity in Maharashtra suffers due to the 'apathy' of the State government, in shortlisting the State's Diving Team (women) for participating in the National Games to be held on January 29, in Uttarakhand. A division bench Justices Bharati Dangre and Ashwin Bhobe noted that the Maharashtra State Aquatic Coordination Committee (MSACC) conducted trials for shortlisting the candidates for the State's Diving Team, initially on January 4 and 5, 2025. However, one of the swimmers had alleged 'bias' in the procedure and thus on January 11 the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) had ordered the MSACC to conduct re-trials of the women swimmers for representing the State's Diving Team but this time with 'neutral judges', preferably from outside Maharashtra. However, when the matter was heard on January 17, the bench was irked to note that in the last six days, the MSACC could not find a single 'neutral judge' from others States. "The scenario projected before us in the present Writ Petition is a clear picture of how Sports/Games are looked at by the State of Maharashtra and how the Sports fraternity suffer on account of its apathy. The unfortunate part in the whole scenario is, today on January 17, 2025 a week ahead from January 29, 2025, the MSACC has not been able to find out neutral persons to act as Judges and as a result the direction for conduct of fresh trials, is not yet complied with," the bench recorded in its order. The consequence of this lapse, the bench noted, was that the cut-off date for submission of entries of the Maharashtra Diving Team which was January 18, 2025, the team of Maharashtra thus was likely to miss the National Events of Swimming."It is really unfortunate to note that the MSACC is unable to trace persons outside the state, for judging the trials and the Petitioners are likely to miss the event, despite the fact that on an earlier occasion their names were forwarded as a part of the Maharashtra Diving Team," the judges bemoaned. The judges, refused to pass any order to postpone the National Games, which commences from January 29, "because we understand that in the National Games there would be participants from various states, and in their absence it would be difficult for us to postpone the entire event."However, in the peculiar scenario, the bench ordered the MSACC to make a representation to the SFI or the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC), under whose aegis the event is likely to be conducted. It therefore asked the MSACC to request for an extension on behalf of State of Maharashtra, for forwarding the names of swimmers from the State on account of the difficulty faced by them since they expect the re- trials to be conducted very shortly."In any case, it is upto the concerned committee to take appropriate decision, on such a request, depending upon their policy and since the GTCC is not a party to the proceedings and considering that the event is one of a National interest, involving interest of many participants, it may not be appropriate for us to issue mandamus, asking them to take decision upon the said communication, in a particular way, but we expect them to adopt sympathetic approach so that the swimmers from the State of Maharashtra may not loose an opportunity to participate in the National Event," the bench said.With these observations, the judges disposed of the plea. Appearance: Advocates GN Salunke, Rupesh Turbhekar and Umesh Kurund appeared for the Petitioners.Advocates Jyoti Yadav and SU Bharucha represented the Union of India.Advocate Tvishi Pant instructed by Keystone Partners represented the Swimming Federation of India.Advocates Mukesh Pathak and Abhishek appeared for one of the Swimmers. Case Title: Shravani Suryavanshi vs Union of India (Civil Writ Petition 769 of 2025)Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Bom) 27Click Here To Read/Download Order

Sports Fraternity Suffers Due To Apathy From Maha Govt: Bombay High Court On Entry Of Women Swimmers' Team In National Games

Narsi Benwal

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