Amit and Others v. Union of India and Others

CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-1-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

INoTHEoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoHIGHoCOURToATo CHANDIGARHo o o (2oconnectedocases)ooo o o o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o20.09.2023.o 262oo

(1)o o o o o o CWP-14491-2023o(O&M)o AMIToANDoOTHERSo ..oPetitionerso oVERSUSoo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo ..oRespondentsoo ******o

(2)o o o o o o CWP-14802-2023o(O&M)o o SAGARo ..oPetitionero oVersusoo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo ..oRespondentsoo ******o Present:oo Mr.oSajjanoSingh,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitioners.o o o o Mr.oBabbaroBhan,oAdvocate,oo foropetitioneroNo.3oinoCWP-14491-2023.oooo o Mr.oSudhiroNar,oSenioroPaneloCounseloandoo Ms.oSamritoGill,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentsoNo.1oando3/UnionoofoIndia.oo o Mr.oAbhimanyuoKalsy,oAdvocate,oforoo Mr.oAtuloGoyal,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentoNo.2oinobothotheowritopetitions.o CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-2-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

o Mr.oMohitoGarg,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentsoNo.4otoo7oinoCWP-14491-2023oandoo fororespondentsoNo.4otoo6oinoCWP-14802-2023.o o o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o o o o o Challengeo ino theo presento petitiono pertainso too theo impugnedo policieso (Annexureo P-5o ando Annexureo P-6)o aso wello aso theo impugnedo Selectiono(AnnexureoP-7)oalongowithotheoevaluationoforoAsianoGameso(Eliteo MenoReport)owithorespectotoorespondentsoNo.6oando7o(wronglyomentionedo aso respondentso No.5o ando 6).o Ao furthero mandamuso haso beeno soughto foro issuingo directionso too theo respondentso too conducto finalo selectiono trialso stipulatedoinotheoNationaloSportsoDevelopmentoCodeoofoIndiao(NSCI),o2011o (hereinafteroreferredotooasoo"Codeoofo2011")onotifiedoono31.01.2011oandotoo recommendotheonamesoofotheoplayersoforoAsianoGamesoonotheobasisothereof.o o o TheopetitionersohereinoclaimotoobeooutstandingoSportsopersonso havingoexcelledoinovariousosportingocompetitionsoinoboxing.oPetitioneroNo.1o claimsotoohaveowono08oGoldoMedals,o03oSilveroMedalsoando04oBronzeo Medalso ato Internationalo levelo ando petitionero No.2o iso statedo too haveo participatedoinovariousointernationalochampionshipsoandocompetitions.oTheo petitioneroNo.3oisostatedotoobeoonlyoaosportsoenthusiast.oCounseloforotheo petitionersocontendsothatotheosaidopetitioneroNo.3omayobeodeletedofromotheo arrayoofotheopetitioners.oo o o Theo grievanceo espousedo byo theo petitionerso ino briefo iso thato notwithstandingotheomandateoofotheoCodeoofo2011oforoholdingoofoselectiono trialsoforoselectingoteamotooparticipateoinomajorointernationaloevents,otheo respondentso haveo violatedo theo mandateo ofo theo Codeo ofo 2011o byo ano CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-3-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

addendumo wherebyo respondentso No.6o ando 7,o whoo wereo otherwiseo noto eligible,ohaveobeenoselectedotooparticipateoinotheoAsianoGames,o2022o(nowo beingoheldoino2023oonoaccountoofoCOVID-19oPandemicoinotheoyearo2022).o Ito iso furthero averredo thato theo petitionerso hado performedo bettero thano theo privateo respondentso ino theo selectiono trialo originallyo heldo ando notwithstandingo theiro bettero performanceo parameters,o theyo haveo beeno declinedoaoplaceoinotheoentourageorecommendedoforoparticipationoinotheo AsianoGamesoinotheoSportsoofoBoxing.oTheoactoofotheorespondentsoisoalsoo challengedoonotheogroundothatotheoSelectionoCommitteeoconstitutedobyotheo respondentsowasonotoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofotheoCodeoofo2011o ando theo guidelineso framedo thereundero ando thato mandatoryo Governmento Observerohadonotobeenoassociated.oFurther,oitoisoalsoostatedothatoevenothougho theoselectionocriteriaoisorequiredotoobeopublishedoatoleasto06omonthsopriorotoo theo selectiono trial,o however,o theo addendumo carryingo outo changeso ino theo selectionoprocedureowasopublishedoonlyoono26.05.2023,oafterotheoselectiono processohadoalreadyocommencedoandotheoaforesaidochangesoinotheoselectiono processowereoorchestratedoatotheobehestooforespondentsoNo.6oando7otoocauseo prejudiceo too theo petitionerso herein.o Ao prayero iso thuso madeo thato theo recommendationo ofo theo respondentso No.6o ando 7o beo seto asideo ando theo petitioneroasowelloasotheorespondentsoNo.6oando7obeoputotooselectionotrialosoo thatoaobetteroAthleteoisoselectedoforoparticipationoinotheoAsianoGamesotoobeo heldoinoChinaow.e.f.o23.09.2023.oHighlightingosuchodefects,otheopresentowrito petitionohasobeenofiled.ooo o o Shorto replyo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.1o i.e.o Ministryo ofo YouthoAffairsoandoSportsothroughoitsoDirectorohasobeenofiled,owhereinoitoiso CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-4-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

submittedothatotheoMinistryoofoYouthoAffairso&oSportsohadoamalgamatedo theo Governmento Guidelines/instructionso ando broughto outo oneo comprehensiveoCodeoofo2011owhichoisoapplicableoonoalloNationaloSportso Federations.o Theo aboveo saido Codeo ofo 2011o containso Governmento instructions/guidelineso foro granto ofo Governmento recognitiono too Nationalo SportsoFederations;olimitingoageoandotenureoofoofficeobearersoofoNationalo Sportso Federationso includingo theo Indiano Olympico Association;o modelo electionoguidelines;omeasuresotoocombatofraudoinoageoofoplayers;opreventiono ofosexualoharassmentoofowomenoinosportsoetc.oItoisofurtheroaverredothatotheo aforesaido Codeo ofo 2011o iso bindingo ono everyo Nationalo Sportso Bodyo recognizedothereunder.oTheoaboveosaidoCodeoofo2011oisofollowedoupobyo variouso executiveo instructionso thato areo issuedo fromo timeo too timeo ino theo exigentocircumstancesoforoachievingotheodynamicoobjectoofotheoCodeoofo 2011.oItoisofurtheroaverredothatotheoNationaloSportsoFederationoisoprimarilyo responsibleoforojudiciousoselectionoofonationaloteamsoforoparticipationoino majoro internationalo eventso basedo ono meritso ando witho ano objectiveo ofo enhancingo nationalo prestigeo ando glory.o Theo selectiono processo foro theo outstandingo sportspersonso foro participationo ino theo majoro internationalo eventsoisotheoprerogativeoofotheorespectiveoNationaloSportsoFederationoando thereoisonoo directoinvolvemento ofo theo Ministryo inotheo selectionoprocess.o However,otheoNationaloSportsoFederationsoareoobligatedotooensureothatotheo selectionoprocessoisofair,otransparent,oimpartialoandotheoselectionocriteriaoiso madeoknownotooallostakeholdersowelloinoadvance.ooItoisofurtheroaverredothato theonameoofotheoIndianoBoxersoselectedobyoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaotoo representotheocountryoatoAsianoGamesohaveoalreadyobeenosentobyotheoIndiano CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-5-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

Olympico Associationo too theo Organizingo Committeeo ofo Hangzhouo Asiano Gamesoasotheolastodateoforosubmissionoofotheosameowaso15.07.2023.o o o AoseparateoreplyoonobehalfooforespondentsoNo.4otoo7oi.e.otheo BoxingoFederationoofoIndia;oHeadoCoachoofoNationaloEliteoMenoBoxingo CoachingoCampoandotheoselectedoboxersoi.e.oDeepakoandoSachinohasoalsoo beenofiledowherein,owhileoconcedingotheobindingonatureoofotheoCodeoofo 2011,oitoisoassertedothatotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndia,obeingotheoNationalo Sportso Federation,o iso competento too formulateo theo selectiono processo foro selectiono ofo theo athleteso too represento Indiao ino theo boxingo event.o Theo SelectionoCommitteeowasoformedobyotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoono

10.01.2023ocomprisingoofotheomembersoinoaccordanceowithotheoCodeoofo 2011.oTheoabovesaidoSelectionoCommitteeoconsultedotheoSportsoScienceo ProfessionalsoasowelloasoHighoPerformanceoUnitsoandofinalizedoaoselectiono policyoinotheofirstoweekoofoFebruaryo2023.oTheoevaluation/selectionopolicyo finalizedobyotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoisoakinotootheopolicyoadoptedobyo manyoleadingoboxingonationsoinotheoworld.oThereoareovariousoparametersoforo evaluation,o assessmento ando selectiono ofo ano athleteo too ruleo outo anyo possibilityoofobias,opartiality,oabsenceoofomeritooroarbitrariness.oItoisoassertedo thato theo aforesaido selectiono criteriao adoptedo byo theo respondento No.4o -o Boxingo Federationo ofo Indiao haso provedo itso efficacyo ino theo Worldo Championshipso whereo theo Indiano boxingo teamo puto ano outstandingo performance.o Theo Indiano Teamo Eliteo Meno wono threeo bronzeo medalso ino WorldoChampionshipoandotheoIndianoTeamoEliteoWomenowonofourogoldo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-6-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

o o TheoSelectionoPolicyonotifiedoinotheofirstoweekoofoFebruary,o 2023oforoselectionoofoboxersoofoNationaloCampoEliteoWorldoChampionshipo andoAsianoGames,oaocomprehensiveobriefingowasoalsoogivenoinotheoNationalo Camporegardingotheoselection/evaluationoprocessotoobeofollowedobyotheohigho performanceounitoincludingotheohighoperformanceodirectors,ocoachesoando sportso staff.o Theo sameo waso alsoo uploadedo ono theo websiteo ofo Boxingo FederationoofoIndiaoandocommunicatedotootheoSportsoAuthorityoofoIndiaoando asowelloasotheoMinistryoofoYouthoAffairsoandoSports.oTheoaboveoselectiono ndpolicyo waso alsoo presentedo ino 92 o meetingo ofo Steeringo Groupo (Coreo Members)o ofo theo Missiono Olympico Cell.o Ano addendumo waso thereaftero publishedo ono 16.03.2023,o whicho waso alsoo uploadedo ono theo websiteo ofo respondento No.4-Boxingo Federationo ofo Indiao too furthero crystalizeo theo selectionocriteriaoinoaomoreoconciseomanneroandoforotheobetterounderstandingo ofotheoathletesobyoremovingoandoaddressingotheiroqueries.oo o o Anothero addendumo waso publishedo ono 26.05.2023o regardingo inclusiono ofo Tokyoo Olympico Participanto Eligibilityo foro inclusiono ino Nationalo Coachingo Groupo Campo buto noo changeo hado beeno madeo ino theo selectionoprocessofinalizedobyotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndia.oo o o Itoisosubmittedothatosomeoofotheoboxingosportsopersons,obeingo aggrievedoofotheoselectionocriteriaofinalizedobyotheoBoxingoFederationoofo India,ofiledoaopetitionobeforeoDehioHighoCourtobearingoWritoPetitiono(Civil)o No.2860o ofo 2023o titledo aso 'Manjuo Ranio ando o otherso Versuso Boxingo FederationoofoIndiaoandoothers.'oTheoprayeroforointerimoreliefowasodeclineo byotheoHighoCourtoofooDelhiobyoholdingothatotheojurisdictionoofotheoWrito CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-7-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

Courtoisoonlyotooassessotheooveralloprocessowhichoisorequiredotoobeofair,o reasonableoandotransparent.oTheooperativeopartoofotheosaidoorderoreadsothus:o "10.oo Thereoisonoodoubtothatoselectionoofoaoteamotoorepresentoao country,ofromoamongstotalentedoplayersoisoalwaysoanouphillo task.o Selectionso iso too beo doneo byo professionalo personso whoo haveoknowledgeoofotheosaidosportoandoitoisoexpectedothatotheo sameowouldobeodoneoinoaofairoandonon-discriminatoryomanner,o keepingoqualityorepresentationoonobehalfoofotheocountryoasotheo onlyo priority.o Selectorso areo expectedo too adopto objectiveo criteriaotootheomaximumoextentopossibleobutoultimately,othereoiso noo doubto thato someo discretiono ando subjectiveo assessmento wouldobeoinvolvedo

11.oo Theo Court,o ino sucho cases,o iso too assesso whethero theo overalloprocessohasobeenofair,oreasonableoandotransparentoTheo processoshouldoalsoonotorevealoanyoarbitrariness.oTheoscopeoofo interferenceo ino ao writo petitiono ino sucho caseso wouldo beo too ensureotheosame.oBearingothisoinomind,otheoevaluationoformso haveobeenoperusedobyotheoCourtoasoalsootheomedalotally.oTheo sameo doeso noto ino theo opiniono ofo theo Court,o smacko ofo anyo arbitrarinessoorobias."o o o o o Referenceoiso alsoo madeotootheo judgmento ofotheo Delhio Higho Courtoreportedoaso2016oSCCoDel.oOnlineo3660otoocontendothatoautonomyo ofotheoNationaloSportsoFederationoinoselectionoofotheosportspersonsohasobeeno upheldoandothatotheoCodeoofo2011odoesonotomakeoitoobligatoryoforotheoSportso Federationso too conducto theo selectiono trialso foro selectingo theo team.o o Theo relevantoextractoofotheosaidojudgmentoreadsothus:o o "Ao WRITo COURTo WILLo NOTo INTERFEREo INo THEo EXERCISEoOFoDISCRETIONoOFoTHEoNATIONALSPORTSo FEDERATIONo EXCEPTo WHEREo THEo DISCRETIONo ISo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-8-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

SHOWNoTOoHAVEoBEENoEXERCISEDoINoANoARBITRARYo ORoCAPRICIOUSoORoPERVERSEoMANNERoORoCONTRARYo TOo SETTLEDo PRINCIPLESo ORo PRACTICESo AFTERo ALLo POWERoANDoRESPONSIBILITYoGOoHANDoINoHAND.o o 36oHavingoheardotheolearnedocounseloforoparties,othisoCourtoiso ofotheoviewothatotheodecisionowhooshouldorepresentoIndiaoinoao sportingo evento iso besto lefto too theo expertso i.e.o theo concernedo NationaloSportsoFederation.o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo o THEo CODE,o 2011o GIVESo FULLo FLEXIBILITYo ANDo AUTONOMYo TOo RESPONDENTo NOo 4-WFIo TOo DECIDEo THEoPROCESSoOFoSELECTIONoANDoWHENoTOoHOLDoAo TRIAL.o o

43.oThisoCourtoisoalsooofotheoviewothatotheoCode.o2011odoesonoto restrictooroimpingeouponotheoautonomyoorodiscretionoofotheo Nationalo Sportso Federationso too selecto athletes/wrestlerso too represento Indiao ino internationalo sportingo eventso Theo Codeo 2011doesonotomakeoitomandatoryofororespondentono.o4-WFIotoo holdotrialsoforoselectionoofowrestlersoforoOlympicsojustotwootoo threeomonthsopriorotootheoevent.oTheoCode,o2011onlyoobligateso theoNationaloSportsoFederationsotoojudiciouslyoselectoplayerso toorepresentoIndiaoonomeritoforomajorointernationaloeventsowitho theo objectiveo ofo enhancingo nationalo prestigeo ando bringingo gloryotootheocountryoTheoCodeo2011ogivesofulloflexibilityoando autonomyotoorespondentono.o4-WFIotoodecideotheoprocessoofo selectionoandowhenotooholdoaotrialoItoonlyostipulatesothatoifo selectionotrialsoareorequiredotheyoshouldobeoheldotwoomonthsoino advance."o o o o ReferenceowasoalsoomadeotoojudgmentoofotheoDelhioHighoCourto inoWritoPetitiono(Civil)oNo.9593oofo2023otitledo'SujeetoandoanotheroVersuso RAJ KUMAR ARORUA nionoofoIndiaoandoothers'otoocontendothatopoweroofojudicialoreviewoofotheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-9-oo 2023:PHHC:143111o

Higho Courto iso restrictedo too whethero theo selectiono ofo athleteso haveo beeno madeoinoaofairoandoimpartialomannerooronotoandotheoHighoCourt,onotobeingo anoexpert,ocannotodecideosuitabilityoofotheosports-person.oo o o Itohasoalsoobeenoaverredothatotheoselectionoofotheoathletesohaso beenodoneostrictlyoasoperotheoselectionocriteria,owithoallofairnessoandomeritoofo allotheo athleteso hasobeeno evaluatedo ono theiro overalloperformanceoovero ao periodo ofo twoo weekso beforeo ao finalo selecto listo waso recommended.o Theo selectiono criteriao hado beeno publishedo ino Februaryo 2023o ando circulatedo amongstoallostakeholders,oandonooobjectionotootheosameowasoraisedobyotheo petitionersoherein.oAfterohavingoparticipatedoinotheosaidoselectionocriteria,o theyocannotoraiseoaochallengeotootheosameoonobeingounsuccessful.oo o o AoseparateoreplyohasobeenofiledoonobehalfooforespondentoNo.2-IndianoOlympicoAssociationothroughoJointoSecretary/ActingoC.E.O.oofotheo IndianoOlympicoAssociation,owhereinoitohasobeenoaverredothatotheoroleoofo IndianoOlympicoAssociationoisolimitedoonlyotooenforcementoofoRulesoando Regulationso ofo theo Indiano Olympico Committee.o Theo Nationalo Sportso Federationso haveo theiro owno autonomyo too beo ino consonanceo witho theiro respectiveoInternationaloSportsoFederation.oItoisoreiteratedothatotheoselectiono ofotheosportspersonsoforoparticipationoinomajorointernationaloeventsoisotheo responsibilityoofotheoNationaloSportsoFederationsoonlyoandothatothereoisonoo involvemento ofo theo Indiano Olympico Associationo ino theo determination/o alterationoofotheocriteria,oifoany.oItoisofurtheroaverredothatotheoguidelineso issuedounderotheoCodeoofo2011oareoforoefficientomanagementoofocoachingo camps,o selectiono ofo coaches,o selectiono ofo athleteso etc.o Ao prayero foro dismissaloofotheopetitionowasoaccordinglyomade.oo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-10-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

o o Ano additionalo affidavito foro placingo ono recordo theo Selectiono Policy/Criteriaoadoptedobyotheorespondent-NationaloSportsoFederationohaso alsoobeenofiledowhereinoitoisoaverredothatotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiao formulatedotheoSelectionoPolicyoono06.02.2023oandoissuedotheoaddendumoono

16.03.2023o onlyo too clarifyo theo Selectiono Policyo ando theosameo waso dulyo uploadedoonotheowebsiteoofotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoono17.03.2023.o TheosaidoaddendumoallowingoparticipantsotoojoinoNationaloCampowasoissuedo muchopriorotootheoWorldoBoxingoChampionshipsothatowereoscheduledoinotheo monthoofoAprilo2023oandoconcludeoinoMayo2023.oItoisothusoaverredothatotheo allegationothatotheoaddendumohadobeenoissuedoonlyotooadvanceobenefitsotoo theoprivatesorespondentsowasoill-foundedoandomis-conceived.oo o o Referringo tootheo selectiono processo foro theo evaluationoofo theo Athletes,odetailsoofotheoSelectionoCommitteeohadobeenomentionedoasounder:o a)o BernardoDunne,oHighoPerformanceoDirectoroandoFormero WBAoSuperoBantamweightoWorldoChampion)o o b)o DmitrijoForeignoCoach,o(Russia)o c)o C.A.Kuttapa,oHeadoCoacho(DronacharyaoAwardee)o d)o D.S.oYadav,oCoacho(Olympic,oArjunaoAwardee).o o o o ItoisoaverredothatoinoconsonanceowithotheoSelectionoPolicy,otheo playersowereoevaluatedoinotheoNationaloCampobyotheoaboveofourocoachesoaso perotheoSelectionoPolicyoofotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoforoselectionoofo theoIndianoTeamoforoAsianoGames,o2023.oTheolistoofotheomarksogivenotootheo petitioneroandotheootheroAthletesobyoallotheofourocoachesohasobeenoattached.oo o o Ito iso furthero averredo thato Petitionero No.1-Amito waso alsoo assessedo undero theo aboveo Selectiono Policyo 06.02.2023o ino theo montho ofo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-11-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Marcho 2023,o ando eveno ino theo saido assessment,o heo hado scoredo lesso thano respondentoNo.6o–oDeepak.oThus,orespondentoNo.6owasosentotootheoWorldo Championshipo 2023o whereo heo wono theo Bronzeo Medal.o Ao detailedo descriptionowasoalsoogivenoofotheomulti-stageoandomulti-layeredoassessmento criteriaoadoptedobyotheorespondentsoforoshortolistingoofotheosportspersonsotoo participateoinotheoAsianoGames,o2023.oo o o Nooreplicationohas,ohowever,obeenofiled.oo ARGUMENTSooOFoCOUNSELoFORoTHEoPETITIONERSo o o LearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasoreferredotootheoCodeoofo 2011o ando theo selectiono criteriao laido downo therein.o Theo relevanto clauseso reliedobyohimoareoreproducedohereinafterobelow:oo o o "3.oSelectionoofoAthletes.oo

(i)o oTheo selectiono ofo sportspersonso foro participationo ino majorointernationaloeventsoshallobeotheoresponsibilityoofo Nationalo Sportso Federationso (NSF)o concerned,o ando GovernmentoandotheoSportsoAuthorityoofoIndia,owillonoto haveodirectoinvolvementoinotheoselectionoprocess,oexcepto tooensureothatoitoisofairoandotransparent.o

(ii)-(iii)o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

(iv)oo Theoholdingoofotheoselectionotrialsoshouldobeoannouncedo atoleastooneomonthoinoadvanceoofodatesoofotheotrials.oo

(v)oo o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

(vi)oo TheoselectionoshallobeodoneobyoaoSelectionoCommittee,o consistingoofotheoPresidentoofotheoNSFoasotheochairman,o theo Nationalo coacho ando eminento ex-sportspersons,o preferablyo Arjunao awardees.o Thereo shallo beo noo GovernmentoObserver/SAIonominee,oasomember,oinotheo SelectionoCommittee.oo

(vii)oo Theo NSFso shallo sendo invitationo too theo Governmento RAJ KUMAR ARORA Observer,o foro attendingo theo selectiono trials,o ando theo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-12-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

selectionocommitteeomeetings,oasoanoObserver,oatleasto 15odaysoinoadvance,owhichoshallofurtherobeofollowedoupo onopersonalobasis.oTheoGovernmentoObserveromustosendo his/heroreport,odirectlyotooSAIoandotheoMinistry,owithouto delay.o

(viii)-(xiii)oo XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXX"o (Emphasisosupplied)o o o o Ito iso arguedo thato Codeo ofo 2011o stipulateso selectiono ofo sportspersonso foro participationo ino majoro internationalo eventso througho selectionotrialsotoobeoannouncedoatoleastooneomonthoinoadvance.o o o ReferenceoisoalsoomadeotooClauseo13.2oofotheoCodeoofo2011,o whichoreadsothus:o o "13.1oo XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

13.2.ooo TheoSelectionoCommitteeowillobeoconstitutedobyo theo Federationo comprisingo ofo theo President,o theo Nationalo Coacho ando eminento ex-sportspersons.o Theo Governmento willo appointo ano Observero foro priorityo ando generalo categoryo disciplinesoreceivingofinancialogrant,owhoowillobeoassociatedo withoallotheoactivitiesoofotheoNationaloFederation.oItowillobeo mandatoryo foro theo Federationo too informo himo oro hero abouto Selectiono Committeeo Meetings,o importanto nationalo ando internationalo competitions.o Theo Governmento Observero willo haveotooobserveotheoselectionoprocessoinoorderotooensureothatoito isofairoandotransparent.o

13.3o–o13.09oooooXXXXo XXXXoXXXX"o o o o ByoreferringotootheoaforesaidoClause,oanoargumentohasobeeno raisedo thato theo Selectiono Committeeo requiredo too beo constitutedo byo theo Nationalo Sportso Federationo mandateso appointmento ofo ao Governmento RAJ KUMAR AROROA bserverotoooverseeofairnessoandotransparencyoinotheoselectionoprocess.oIno CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-13-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

furtheranceoofotheoaforesaidomandate,oaoSelectionoPolicyodatedo16.02.2022o wasopublishedobyotheorespondentsoandoadoptedoforoselectionoofoBoxersoforo EliteoBoxingoChampionships,oAsianoGamesoandoCommonwealthoGames,o 2022.oReferenceoisomadeotootheofollowingoclausesoofotheoaboveoSelectiono Policy:o "1.oo NationaloCampersowillobeoeligibleoforoparticipatingoino Selectiono Trialso Nationalo Camperso whicho includeo theo participantsoofotheo2020o Tokyoo Olympicowhoo dido noto participateoinotheoNationaloChampionship.o

2.oo o XXXXXo XXXXXo XXXXXo

3.oo Inogeneralochangesoinoweightocategoryowillobeoallowedo onceoinoaoyearoatotheotimeoofoNationaloChampionships.o

4.o However,oinoviewoofoAsianoGamesoandoCommonwealtho Gameso too beo heldo thiso yearo ino whicho theo weighto categoriesoofoIBAodoonotoexactlyotallyowithotheoweighto categorieso ofo theseo twoo games,o changeo ino weighto categoriesowillobeoallowedoforotheoboxersoinotheocampo onlyoforotheseogamesotootheoextentothatotheoBoxersocano manageowithinotheospecifiedoweightocategory.o 5-6.o o XXXXXo XXXXXo XXXXXo

7.oo Selectiono Trialso willo beo heldo ino Eliteo Meno campo foro AsianoGamesoandoCommonwealthoGamesoinotheomiddleo ofoMay,o2022o

8.oo Selectiono Committeeo willo compriseo ofo President,o BFIo (orohisonominee)oandoexpertopanelooforeputedoveterano boxers,opreferablyoArjunaoDronacharyaoAwardees,opasto OlympiansoandopastoWorldoChampionshipomedalists.o 9-10.o o XXXXXo XXXXXo XXXXX"o o o o o Ito iso thuso contendedo thato allo nationalo camperso wereo heldo eligibleotooparticipateoinotheoselectionotrialsoandothatotheoselectionoforotheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-14-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Eliteo Meno foro Asiano Gameso 2022o waso too beo heldo fromo amongsto theo campers.o Selectiono Committeeo waso too compriseo ofo theo Presidento oro nomineeoofotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoandoanoExpertofromotheopaneloofo reputedo veterano boxerso preferablyo Arjuna/Dronacharyao Awardees,o pasto OlympiansoandopastoWorldoChampionshipomedalists.oItoisoarguedothatotheo Selectiono Committeeo hado noto beeno constitutedo aso pero Clauseo 8o ofo theo abovesaidoSelectionoPolicyoasooneoofotheoMemberoofotheoCommitteeowaso notoanoeminentosportspersonoandowasoonlyoanoExecutiveoDirectoroofotheo Federationohavingonoosportsobackground.oo o o HeohasofurtheroarguedothatotheoAsianoGamesotoobeoheldoinoMayo 2022owereodeferredoonoaccountoofotheoglobalopandemicoandoareoscheduledo ino Septembero 2023.o Ao selectiono criteriao foro Nationalo Coachingo Camps,o Worldo Championshipo ando Asiano Games,o 2023o waso thereaftero publishedo againobyotheorespondentsoono06.02.2023.o o o Referenceoisomadeotootheoadditionalorequirementsomentionedo inotheoabovesaidoselectionocriteriaowhichoareoextractedoasounder:o "Additionalorequirementsonotosetooutoabove,oforoparticipationo inodomesticoorointernationaloqualifyingoeventsomayobeoimposedo byo theo Higho Performanceo Selectiono Committee.o Anyo sucho requiremento willo beo publishedo ino writingo witho ao fouro weeko noticeotooathletes.oo Threeo athleteso pero weighto divisiono willo beo selectedo too participateoinotheoselectionoprocessoforoWorldoChampionshipso 2023.o Ino additiono too theo minimumo eligibilityo requirementso above,o athletesomuchomeetoatoleastooneoofotheofollowingoperformanceo markersotooparticipateoinocollectiveotrainingoandoadvanceotoo theoevaluationostageoofotheoselectionoprocess.oo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-15-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

A.o GoldoandosilveroatoEliteoNationaloChampionships,o2022.o B.o AthleteoisoaomedalistoatotheomaleoWorldoChampionshipso 2021.o C.o MedalistoatoCommonwealthoGameso2022."o o o o Attentionowasoalsoodrawnotootheoevaluationoandoteamoselectiono criteriao providedo thereundero too contendo thato theo Athleteso whoo achieveo Gold/SilveroatoWorldoChampionshipsowereoheldoautomaticallyoselectedoforo theofirstoOlympicoqualifieroatotheoAsianoGames.oAttentionowasoalsoodrawno tootheoclauseodealingowithotrialowhichowereomandatedoandoisoextractedoaso under:o "Evaluationo&oTeamoSelectiono Athletesowhoomeetotheorequirementsoaboveowillobeoselectedotoo participateo ino theo Nationalo Coachingo Camp,o commencingo Januaryo 20,o 2023.o Eacho athleteo whoo participateso ino theo NationaloCoachingoCampowillobeoevaluated.oThisoevaluationo willobeobasedoonotheoHigh-PerformanceoEvaluationoGuidelineso outlinedoinoAttachmentoA.o Onceotheoevaluationoprocessoisocomplete,oalloevaluationsowillo beosubmittedotootheoHighoPerformanceoSelectionoCommittee,o whichoisocomposedoofotheo[SecretaryoGeneraloBFI,oHPDo&o HeadoCoaches]oTheoHigh-PerformanceoSelectionoCommitteeo willo reviewo allo evaluationso ando theo athleteo witho theo besto evaluation,o pero weighto class,o willo beo selectedo too theo Eliteo Nationalo Teamo too participateo ino theo respectiveo male/femaleo worldochampionshipsoAlloathletesowhooareonotoselectedotootheo Eliteo Nationalo Teamo willo remaino ino theo Eliteo High-PerformanceoPooloinorankedoorderoperoweightoclassoaccordingo toohisooroheroweightodivisionoo AthletesowhooachieveoGold/SilveroatoWorldochampionshipsowillo beoanoautomaticoselectionoforotheofirstoOlympicoqualifieroatotheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-16-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Pruningo ofo theo Nationalo Coachingo Campo willo beo basedo ono continuousoassessmentoandoevaluationoofoathleteso Trialo Trialsowillobeoheldoforoanyoremainingoweightocategoriesowhicho haveonotoachievedoGold/Silveroato2023oWorldoChampionships.o Toobeoeligibleotooparticipateoinotrials,oanoathleteomustobeoao camperoofoNationaloCoachingoCamp,ohaveoMedalledoatooneoofo theo Nationalo championships-o 2021/22o oro medalledo ato theo previousoAsian,oCommonwealthooroWorldochampionshipsoAno athleteoatothisostageowillobeoallowedotoomoveohis/heroweighto up/downo ifo theyo soo wish,o too participateo Trialso wouldo beo conductedoforoEliteoWomenoinofirstohalfoofoAprilo2023oandofromo EliteoMenoinoFirstohalfoofoJuneo2023.oTheseodatesoareotentativeo andosubjectotoochangeoinoaccordanceowithodatesoofoIBAoWorldo BoxingoChampionshipooforespectiveocategories.o Theowinneroofotheseotrialsowillogooforwardotoochallengeotheo 2023o Worldo Championshipo participanto foro ao placeo ato theo AsianoGames."o o o o Relyingoonotheoabove,ocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedo thatoevenotheoaboveosaidoSelectionoCriteriaomandatedoaoselectionotrialoando thato notwithstandingo theo same,o theo privateo respondentso hado beeno shorto listed.o Ito iso arguedo thato trialo wereo too beo heldo foro theo remainingo weighto categories,o whoo haveo noto achievedo Gold/Silvero medalo ato Worldo Championshipso 2023o aso pero theo criteriao publishedo ono 06.02.2023.o Ano Athleteowasorequiredotoomeetoatoleastooneoofotheoperformanceomarkersotoo participateoinotheocollectiveotrainingoandobeforeoadvancingotootheoevaluationo stageoofotheoselectionoprocessoi.e.oofohavingowonoaoGold/Silveromedaloatooneo ofo theo Nationalo Championshipo 2021/2022;o Medalisto ato theo Maleo Worldo Championshipo 2021o oro Medalisto ato Commonwealtho Games,o 2022.o Ito iso CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-17-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

arguedothatorespondentsoNo.6oando7odidonotofulfillotheoadditionaloeligibilityo requirementsoprescribedoinotheoabovesaidoselectionocriteriaoandowereonoto evenoentitledotooadvanceotootheoevaluationostageoofotheoselectionoprocess.o Havingofiguredothatotheorespondentsowouldonotobeoeligibleotooparticipateoino theoevaluationoprocess,otheoaddendumowasoissuedotoobringorespondentsoNo.6o ando 7o ino theo zoneo ofo consideration.o Thereo wereo noo compellingo circumstancesonecessitatingotheoissuanceoofoanoaddendumotootheoselectiono criteriao10odaysobeforeotheoselectionoprocess,obutoforoextendingoaobenefitotoo respondentsoNo.6oando7.oTheoabovesaidoaddendumotootheoSelectionoCriteriao wasofurtheromodifiedoinotheomeetingoheldoono26.05.2023oandotheoeligibilityo tooparticipateoinotheotrialsowasomodifiedoasounder:o "1.o Theo athleteo waso medalo (Gold/Silver)o ato theo Worldo Championshipo 2023o willo haveo ano automatico selectiono forotheoAsianoGameso2023o(firstoOlympicoqualifier)oino thatoparticularoweightocategory.o

2.o TrialsowillobeoheldoforoalloOlympicoweightocategoriesoforo athletesootherothanothoseowhooparticipatedoinoOlympico weightoatoWorldoChampionshipo2023.o

3.oo Anoathleteoatothisostageowillobeoallowedotoomoveohis/hero weightoup/downoifotheyosoowish,otooparticipate.o

4.o Anoathleteotoobeoeligibleoforotrialsomustobeoaocamperoofo Nationalo Coachingo Camp/Participatedo ino theo Tokyoo OlympicoGameso2020oorohaveoMedaledoatoanyooneoofo theofollowingochampionships:o k EliteoNationaloChampionshipso2021/22.o k EliteoAsianoChampionshipo2021/22.o k CommonwealthoGameso2022.o k EliteoWorldoChampionshipo2021/22."o o o CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-18-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

o o Referringotootheoaboveoeligibilityocriteria,olearnedocounseloforo theopetitionersohasodrawnoattentionotooconditionoNo.2oasoperowhichotrialso wereotoobeoheldoforoalloOlympicoweightocategoriesoforoAthletes,ootherothano thoseo whoo participatedo ino theo Olympico weighto ato Worldo Championshipo 2023.o Sinceo theo respondentso No.6o ando 7o hado participatedo ino theo Worldo Championshipo2023,ohence,otheyowereoexemptedofromotheoselectionotrials.o Thuso theyo becameo eligibleo ono accounto ofo arbitraryo alterationo ofo theo SelectionoCriteria,oafterotheoprocessoofoselectionoofoteamotooparticipateoino theoAsianoGamesohadoalreadyocommenced.ooItoisoarguedothatoinotheoselectiono trialsoheldopursuantotootheoSelectionoCriteriaodatedo16.02.2022oforoselectiono ofoparticipantsoinotheoCommonwealthoGameso2022,owhereinotheopetitionerso aso wello aso theo privateo respondentso No.6o ando 7o hado participated,o theo petitionero hado defeatedo respondento No.6o beforeo beingo selectedo aso theo sportspersonotooparticipateoinotheosaidoeventoandohadowonoaoGoldoMedal.oHeo contendso thato thereo areo numerouso judicialo pronouncementso whicho haveo supportedo theo necessityo ofo conductingo selectiono trial,o wheno thereo iso ano arbitraryochangeoofoselectionocriteriaosoothatoaosportspersonowhooperformso betteroinotheoselectionotrialsoisoshortolisted.oReferenceoisomadeotootheomadeo ofoorderoofoDelhioHighoCourtoinoWritoPetitiono(Civil)oNo.2966-2023otitledo aso "Anujo Kumaro ando otherso o Vs.o Uniono ofo Indiao ando others".o Theo relevantoparagraphothereofoisoextractedoasounder:o "13.o Consideringo theo scheduleo foro theo trials,o irreparableo prejudiceowouldobeocausedotootheoPetitionersoifotheyoareonoto permittedotooparticipateoinotheotrials,oasotheyowouldoinoeffectobeo excludedofromocompetingoforotheoAsianoChampionshipo2023oaso alsootheoParisoOlympicso2024.oConsideringothisoposition,oando RAJ KUMAR ARORA theofactothatotalentedowrestlersolikeotheoPetitionersooughtonototoo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-19-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

beoexcludedoasothereooughtotoobeogreaterotalentotoocompeteoino theo trials,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo opiniono thato theo Petitionerso oughtotoobeopermittedotooparticipateoinotheotrialsotomorrowoie,o 10tho March,o 2023o ando ono 11tho March,o 2023o ino theiro respectiveo categories.o Theo Petitionerso shallo beo permittedo too competeoinotheotrialsoandoshallobeojudgedoonotheiroownomerit."o o o o Relyingoonoabove,oitoisoarguedothatotheopetitionersohereinomayo beopermittedotooparticipateoinotheotrialoinotheirorespectiveocategoriesoandotoo compete,osooasotoobeojudgedoforotheiromerit.oItoisofurtheroarguedothatotheo MinistryoofoYouthoAffairsoandoSportsoisotheoonlyoAuthorityotoosanctionoanyo relaxationoinotheoSelectionoCriteriaoandothatonoosuchorelaxationohasobeeno approved/authorizedo byo theo Ministryo ofo Youtho Affairso ando Sport.o Heo furtheroarguesothatoevenotheomarksohaveobeenoimproperlyoawardedoinotheo saidoSelectionoCriteriaoandothato80omarksohaveobeenowronglyoawardedotoo theo respondento foro weighto management.o Ino caseo theo abovesaido weighto managementso markso areo deleted,o theo petitionero wouldo infacto fallo ino theo selecto list.o Theo respondento No.6o weighedo 54.8o whereaso parameterso foro weightomanagementoinotheocategoryoofo51oKGoareouptooaomaximumoofo53.6.o Theopetitionerowasohenceoentitledoforohigheromarksoinotheosaidoevaluationo criteriaoasowell.oItoisoarguedothatotheoDelhioHighoCourtoinoitsojudgmentodatedo

03.07.2014opassedoinoWritoPetitiono(Civil)oNo.3914oofo2014otitledoaso"Amito KumaroDhankharoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers"ohasoruledothatoselectiono trialoisoobligatoryoyetonooselectionotrialohasobeenoheldoandotheoteamohasobeeno shortolistedoonlyoonotheobasisoofoevaluation.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheo sameoisoasounder:oo "41.oHavingoheldothat,oaowritoofomandamusocanobeosoughtobyo RAJ KUMAR ARORA theopetitionersoforoholdingoselectionotrialsoinoaccordanceowitho CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-20-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

theo Code,o theo nexto issue,o whicho fallso foro considerationo iso whetherotheoprocessofollowedobyotheorespondentoNo.o4o(WFI)o inoselectingotheoteamoisojustifiedoAoperusaloofoparao10.5o(pageo 108oofoWP.C.o3743/2014),o10.6o(pageo108oofoWPCo3943/2014)o andoparao3oofotheoletter/guidelinesodatedoSeptembero18,o2008,o issuedo byo theo Ministryo ofo Youtho Affairso ando Sportso wouldo revealotheofollowingoposition:o

(i)oo Theo Asiano Games/Commonwealtho Gameso Olympico Gamesoareomajoromulti-disciplineointernationalosportsoevents.o

(ii)oo Aoproposaloatocostotootheogovernmentoshouldobeosento threeo monthso prioro too theo evento alongo witho theo Selectiono Committee'soMinutes.oo

(iii)oo Selectionoofosportsopersonsoforoparticipationoinomajoro internationaloeventsoshallobeoresponsibilityoofoNSF.o

(iv)o Theo selectiono criteria/normso shallo beo clearlyo communicatedobyoNSFotooalloconcerned,oplayers,ocoachesoetco andoshallobeoputoupoonotheowebsiteo andoforwardedotootheoMinistry.o

(v)oo Theo minimumo qualifyingo normso mayo beo fixedo ando announcedo alongo witho theo noticeo foro selectiono trialso whicho shallobeoannouncedoatoleastooneomonthoinoadvance.o

(vi)oo TheoselectionoshallobeodoneobyotheoSelectionoCommitteeo consistingoofoPresidentoofoNFSoasotheoChairman,otheonationalo coachoetcoo

(vii)oo Theo nationalo coacho willo evaluateo theo progresso ando performanceoofoeachoplayeroonoregularobasiso

(viii)ooTheo proceedingo ofo theo selectiono shouldo spello outo ino detailo theo selectiono criteria,o theo pasto performanceo ofo theo playersoandotheiroperformanceowithinotrials."o o o o o Heoreiteratesothatotheoselectionotrialobeingoaoprerequisiteoandoao mandatoryocondition,otheosameocouldonotohaveobeenoexemptedoexceptowitho RAJ KUMAR ARORtAheo prioro permissiono ofo theo Governmento ofo Indiao fromo theo Ministryo ofo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-21-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Youtho Affairso ando Sports.o Ito iso thuso arguedo thato anyo selectiono doneo ino violationo ofo theo mandatoryo provisionso ofo Codeo ofo 2011o iso arbitrary,o discriminatoryoandoliableotoobeosetoaside.oHeofurtherocontendsothatoinoanyo case,otheoprivateorespondentsoNo.6oando7ocannotopleadothatotheyowouldobeo prejudicedoinoanyomannerobyoaomereoholdingoofotheoselectionotrialsoandothato theo comparativeo achievemento charto ofo theo petitionerso vis-a-viso theo respondento establisheso thato theo recordo ofo theo petitionerso iso faro moreo impressiveothanotheoprivateorespondents.oTheosameoisoextractedoasounder:ooo NameoofoBoxer:ooAmito Weightoo AchievementoinoInternationaloTournamento Position/Medalo Categoryo o Asiano Boxingo Championshipo heldo ato BronzeoMedalo o Tashkento(Uzbekistan)ow.e.f.o30oApro2017otoo o o 07oMayo2017o o AIBAo Worldo Boxingo Championshipo heldo Participatedo o o atoHamburg,oGermanyoweo(sic)o25oAugotoo02o o Sepo2017o o o GrandprixoBoxingoTournamentoheldoatoChzeko GoldoMedalo o Republicofromo13-25oJulyo2017oo o Eliteo Openo Indiao Internationalo Boxingo GoldoMedalo o ChampionshipoatoIndiaofromo27oJano2018otooo o 02oFebo2018o o th 69 o Strandjao internationalo boxingo GoldoMedaloo o championshipo heldo ato Bulgariao wefo 11-20o o Febo2018o49oKgo XXIoCommonwealthoGames-o2018oheldoato SilveroMedalo Goldcoasto(Australia)ow.e.f.o04oApro2018otoo 14oAprilo2018o Chemistryo Cupo Boxingo Tournamento ato BronzeoMedalo Germanyofromo19-24oJuneo2018o CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-22-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Asiano Gameso -2018o heldo ato Jakartao ino GoldoMedalo Indonesiaofromo24o–o31oAug.o2018o 70o Strandjao Internationalo Boxingo GoldoMedalo ChampionshipoheldoatoBulgariaow.e.o14oFebo too19oFebo2019o o Asiano Boxingo Championshipo heldo ato GoldoMedalo o Bangkoko(Thailand)owe.fo19oApro2019otoo26o o o Apro2019oo o AIBAo Worldo Boxingo Championshipo heldo SilveroMedalo o 52oKgo ato Yekaterinburg,o Russiao fromo 9o too 21o Septembero2019o Olympico 9ualifiero tournamento ino Marcho BronzeoMedalo 2020,o ando qualifiedo foro theo 2020o Tokyoo Olympicso Cologneo Boxingo Worldo Cupo 2020o heldo ato GoldoMedalo CologneoGermanyofromo16otoo20oDecembero 2020o Governor'so o Cupo heldo ato St.o Pittsburgh,o BronzeoMedalo Russiaofromo18otoo25oApro2021o AsianoBoxingoChampionshipoheldoatoDubaio SilveroMedalo (SoudioArab)ow.e.f.o23oMayo2021otoo01oJuneo 2021o o Olympico Gameo heldo ato Tokyoo ino Japano Participatedo o w.e.f.o23oJulyo2021otoo08oAugusto2021o o XXIIo Commonwealtho Gameso heldo ato GoldoMedal.o o Birminghamo(UK)ow.e.f.o28oJulyo2022otoo08o 51oKgo Augo2022oo o NameoofoBoxer:oRohitoMoro Weightoo AchievementoinoInternationaloTournamento Position/Medalo Categoryo o Thailando Openo Internationalo Boxingo Participatedo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-23-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

o Tournament,oheldoatoPhoket,oThailand,o01-10oo o April,o2022o o AIBAo Worldo Boxingo Championshipo heldo Participatedo o atoBelgrade,oSerbiaow.e.f.o22oOct.otoo06oNov.o o 2021o rdo 73 o Strandjao internationalo boxingo Participatedo o championshipoheldoatoSofia,oBulgariaowefo20-57oKgo 28oFebo2022o o Asiano Boxingo Championshipo heldo ato Participatedo o Ulaanbaatar,o Mangoliao w.e.f.o 05-18o Nov.o 52oKgo 2019oo o o o Asoagainstotheoabovesaidoconsistentooutstandingoperformanceo ofotheopetitioners,otheorespondentoNo.6ohasomerelyowonoaoBronzeoMedaloino theo Worldo Championshipo 2023.o Moreover,o theo respondento No.3o haso conductedo sportso trialso foro othero weighto categorieso ando thereo waso noo occasionoororeasonoasotoowhyotheoselectionotrialooughtonototoohaveobeenoheldo forotheoabovesaidocategoryoasowell.o o LearnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheoBoxingoFederationo ofoIndia;oHeadoCoachoasowelloasotheoprivateorespondentsohasodefendedotheo actionoandotheoselectionoprocess.oItohasobeenoarguedobyotheolearnedocounselo thatotheopetitionersoareomisreadingotheoprovisionsoofotheoNationaloSportso DevelopmentoCodeoofoIndia,o2011otoodrawoconclusionsothatodoonotoflowo therefrom.oTheoCodeoofo2011odoesonotoprescribeoselectionotrialsoandoClauseo 13othereofodealsowithotheoselectionoprocedure.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheo sameoreadsothus:-o "13.oSelectionoProcedure:oo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-24-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

13.1oNSFsoareoprimarilyoresponsibleoforojudiciousoselectionoofo nationaloteamsoforoparticipationoinomajorointernationaloeventso basesoonomeritoandowithotheoobjectiveoofoenhancingonationalo prestigeoandobringingogloryotootheocountry.oAsosuchotheobesto sportspersons/teamo haso too beo choseno foro representingo theo country.oo

13.2o Theo Selectiono Committeeo willo beo constitutedo byo theo FederationocomprisingoofotheoPresident,otheoNationaloCoacho andoeminentoex-sportsopersons.oTheoGovernmentowilloappointo ano Observero foro priorityo ando generalo categoryo disciplineso receivingofinancialogrant,owhoowillobeoassociatedowithoallotheo activitiesoofotheoNationaloFederation.oItowillobeomandatoryoforo theo Federationo too informo himo oro hero abouto Selectiono Committeeo Meetings,o importanto nationalo ando internationalo competitions.oTheoGovernmentoObserverowillohaveotoooverseeo theo selectiono processo ino ordero too ensureo thato ito iso fairo ando transparent.o Xxxo xxxo xxxo

13.8o Theo Nationalo Coacho willo evaluateo theo progresso ando performanceoofotheosportspersonsoinotheocoachingocampsoando makeorecommendationsotootheoSelectionoCommitteeoregardingo eliminationo ofo sportspersonso whoo showo unsatisfactoryo performance.o Heo mayo alsoo recommendo inclusiono ofo newo probables.o Theo Selectiono Committeeo willo decideo theo elimination/inclusionoofosportspersonsoasorecommendedobyotheo NationaloCoach."oo o o o Heocontendsothatoinosoofaroasolayingodownoofotheoselectiono procedureoisoconcerned,oCodeoofo2011oholdsotheoNationaloSportsoFederationo toobeoprimarilyoresponsibleoforojudiciousoselectionoofotheonationaloteamsoforo participationo ino majoro internationalo eventso basedo ono merito ando witho ano objectoofoensuringoenhancementoofotheonationaloprestigeoandoglory.oTheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-25-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

selectiono haso beeno lefto too theo judiciouso determinationo byo theo Nationalo SportsoFederationoitself.oItoisosubmittedothatoemphasisolaidobyotheopetitionero ono Annexureo P-2o datedo 18.09.2008o relatingo too Selectiono Committeeo iso misconceivedo sinceo theo aforesaido guidelineso wereo issuedo byo theo Governmento ofo India,o Ministryo ofo Youtho Affairso ando Sports,o prioro too comingointooforceoofotheoCodeoofo2011.oAfterocomingoinoforceoofotheoCodeo ofo2011,otheoGovernmentoofoIndia,oMinistryoofoYouthoAffairsoandoSportso hasorevisedotheoguidelinesoforocompositionoofotheoSelectionoCommitteeoforo selectiono ofo Athletes/sportso personso video Folioo No.8-2/2018-SP-III,o Governmento ofo India,o Ministryo ofo Youtho Affairso ando Sportso datedo

08.01.2018.o Theo guidelineso foro selectiono ofo Athletes/sportspersonsoo stipulatedoinoclauseo3o(i),o(iv),o(vi)oando(vii)ohaveobeenosubstitutedoandoito wasothatohenceforth,otheocompositionoofoSelectionommitteeoforoselectionoofo Athletes/sportsopersonsowouldobeoasounder:-oo "2.oTheoaforesaidoinstructionsohaveobeenoreviewedokeepingoino viewotheovariousodevelopmentsotakenoplaceosubsequentlyosucho asoengagementoofoforeignocoaches,oforeignosupportopersonal,o highoperformanceodirectorsoetc.oinoseveralosportsodisciplineso andoitohasobeenodecidedothatohenceforthotheocompositionoofotheo Selectiono Committeeo foro theo selectiono ofo theo Athletes/sportspersonsowillobeoasounder:o o

(i)o Theo selectiono shallo beo doneo byo ao Selectiono Committee,oconsistingoofotheoPresidentoofotheoNSFoaso theo chairman,o Foreigno Coach/o Higho Performanceo Directoroofotheoconcernedosportsodisciplineoandoeminento ex-sportspersons,opreferablyoArjunaoawardees.oInocaseo thereo iso noo Foreigno Coacho oro he/sheo iso noto ableo too attendo theo Selectiono committeeo meeting,o Heado CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-26-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Coach/AssistantoHeadoCoach/SenioromostoCoachotoobeo nominatedobyoEDo(TEAMS)oSportsoAuthorityoofoIndiao

(SAI),owillobeotheopartoofotheoSelectionoCommittee.oo o

(ii)oGovernmentoobserveroofotheosportsodiscipline,oifoany,o willonotobeoaomemberoofotheoselectionocommitteeobutowillo attendotheoselectionocommitteeomeetingsoandoreportotheo proceedingsotooSAIoandotheoMinistry.o o

(iii)oWhereveroForeignocoachoisoavailable,ohe/sheoshallo evaluateotheoprogressoandoperformanceoofotheoplayersoino theocoachingocampoandomakeorecommendationsotootheo Selectiono Committee,o regardingo discontinuationo ofo playerso showingo unsatisfactoryo performance,o oro inclusionoofonewoprobableogivingodueojustificationoforo theoname."o o oo Theo requiremento ofo Governmento observero stipulatedo ino theo guidelinesoofo18.09.2008owas,ohowever,odiscontinuedobyotheoGovernmento ofoIndia,oMinistryoofoYouthoAffairsoandoSportsovideoFoliooNo.8-47/2010-SP.IIIo datedo 19.02.2014o w.e.f.o 01.02.2014.o Theo revisedo Selectiono Committeeo waso too compriseo ofo theo Presidento ofo theo Nationalo Sportso FederationoasoChairman;oForeignoCoach/highoperformanceodirectoroofotheo concernedosportsodisciplineoandoeminentoex-sportspersonsopreferablyoArjuno Awardeesoandoinocaseothereoisonooforeignocoachoorohe/sheoisonotoableotoo attendotheoselectionocommittee,oHeadoCoach/AssistantoCoach/Senioromosto CoachotoobeonominatedobyoEDo(TEAMS)oSportsoAuthorityoofoIndiao(SAI)o willobeotheopartoofotheoSelectionoCommitteeoandotheoprocessoofoselectionoofo theoathletesowasoundertakenoinoaccordanceothereto.oo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-27-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondentsofurtheroarguesothatotheo selectionopolicyodatedo16.02.2022ostipulatedoselectionoofoboxersoofoIBAo Eliteo Women'so Worldo Boxingo Championship,o Asiano Gameso ando Commonwealtho Gameso ofo 2022.o Thereafter,o theo selectiono criteriao waso publishedoafreshoono06.02.2023oforotheoeventsoofo2023.oPetitionersocannoto referotootheooldocriteriaoandoignoreotheosubsequentodevelopments,omore-so,o whenopetitionersocompetedoasoperotheosaidocriteria.oo oo o Ito iso emphaticallyo arguedo thato theo mandatoryo eligibilityo requirementso prescribedo ino clauseo 3o ofo theo aboveo saido selectiono criteriao pertainedoonlyoforoselectionotooparticipateoinotheonationalocoachingocampo andoisonotoforoselectionoofotheoteam.oThereafter,oeachoathleteowasotoobeo evaluatedoduringohisotrainingoscheduleoatotheonationalocoachingocampoino accordanceowithotheohighoperformanceoevaluationoguidelinesooutlinedoino 'AttachmentoA.'oOnceotheoevaluationoprocessowasocomplete,otheosameowaso toobeosubmittedotooHighoperformanceocommitteeowhichocomprisedoofotheo SecretaryoofotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndia,oHighoperformanceoDirectoro andoHeadoCoachesotooreviewoalloevaluationsoandotheobestoathleteowasotoobeo selectedo too theo Eliteo Nationalo Teamo too participateo ino theo respectiveo male/femaleoworldochampionships.oTheoremainingoathletesowereotooremaino inotheoEliteoHighoPerformanceoPool.oItowasoalsooincorporatedoinotheoaboveo saidoselectionocriteriaothatotheoathletesowhooachieveogold/silveroatotheoworldo championshipso willo beo ano automatico selectiono foro theo firsto Olympico qualifiero ato theo Asiano Games.o Allo theo athleteso includingo theo petitionerso hereinoasowelloasotheorespondentsowereoassessedoonotheoaboveoevaluationo criteriaoandoasoperotheoevaluationodone,otheorespondentorankedohigherothano CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-28-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

theo petitionero ando hado beeno shorto listedo too participateo ino theo Worldo Championships.oTheorespondentosuccessfullyowonoaobronzeomedaloinotheo worldochampionshipso2023obyodefeatingoworldorankoNo.1oinohisoweighto category.oo oo Itoisofurtherocontendedothatoaddendumotootheoaforesaidorevisedo guidelinesoforoselectionocriteriaowasoissuedoono16.03.2023oandotheorelevanto extractoreadsothus:-oo "Toobeoeligibleotooparticipateoinotrials:o ?k Theo athleteo whoo medalo (Gold/Silver)o ato theo worldo championshipo2023owillohaveoanoautomaticoselectionoforotheo AsianoGameso2023o(firsoOlympicoqualifier)oinothatoparticularo weightocategory.o ?k TrialsowillobeoheldoforoalloOlympicoweightocategoriesoforo athletesootherothanothoseowhooparticipatedoinoOlympicoweighto atoWorldoChampionshipo2023."o o o o oo oo Relyingoonotheoaboveosaidoaddendumodatedo16.03.2023,oitoiso contendedo thato theo athleteo whoo wono aboveo medalso ato theo Worldo Championshipo2023owillohaveoanoautomaticoselectionoforotheoAsianoGameso ino2023oinothatoparticularoweightocategoryoandotrialsowereotoobeoheldoforoallo Olympicoweightocategoriesoforootherothanothoseowhooparticipatedoinotheo Olympico weighto ato theo worldo championshipo 2023.o Aso pero theo aboveo addendumowhichowasopublishedoono16.03.2023,otrialowasotoobeoheldoforo thoseoweightocategoriesoandoathletesootherothanothoseowhooparticipatedoato theoOlympicoweightoatotheoworldochampionshipo2023.oSinceotheoweighto categoryo ofo theo respondentsoinotheo worldo championshipsoisoano Olympico weightocategoryoandotheyohadoparticipatedo(respondentoNo.6owonoaobronzeo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-29-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

medal),o ino theo Worldo Championship,o hence,o theyo wereo noto requiredo too undergooaoselectionotrialotooparticipateoinotheoCamp.oTheoallegationoofotheo petitionerothatotheoaddendumodatedo26.05.2023owasoissuedoforotheofirstotimeo too extendo benefitso too theo respondentso iso henceo misconceivedo aso theo aforesaidoconditionowasoalreadyoinotheoaddendumodatedo16.03.2023.oFurthero wheno theo aboveo addendumo datedo 16.03.2023,o waso issuedo theo Worldo Championshipo 2023o hado noto commencedo ando theo teamo waso yeto too beo selectedoandotheopetitionersohadoparticipatedoinotheoaboveoselectionoprocess.o Theoreferenceotooonlyotheoaddendumodatedo26.05.2023owithotheopresentowrito petitionoisoanoattemptotoomisleadotheoCourt.oHeohasofurtheromadeoaoreferenceo tootheoCodeoofo2011oandotheoclauseo15othereof.ooSuboclauseo(i)odealsowitho theoimprovementoinocoachingostandards.oTheosameoreadsothus:-oo "(i)oIMPROVEMENToINoCOACHINGoSTANDARDS:oo Theo standards,o utilizationo ando developmento ofo coacheso ino respectoofoeachodiscipline,oisobasicotooanyolongotermoplanotoo improveosports.oTheospecificorequirementsoofoeachoFederationo inorespectoofoeachoaspectoofocoachingowouldothereforeoneedotoo beo workedo outo ino detail.o Whileo undertakingo thiso exercise,o Federationsoareoadvisedotooconsiderotheofollowing:oo

(i)o Makingo bettero useo ofo ex-Olympianso ando senioro players,o whoohaveotheopotentialoforobecomingoaocoach,obyogivingothemo theoaddedoresponsibilityoofocoaching.oo

(ii)o Usingo theo variouso facilitieso offeredo byo Internationalo FederationsoandotheoIOCotoosignificantlyoimproveocoachingo standards.oo

(iii)oSuggestingodifferentocoachingogradesoonotheointernationalo patternotoomakeotheobestouseoofocoachingoskills.oo

(iv)o Introducingo ao systemo ofo accountabilityo foro theo performanceoofocoachesoatoeveryolevel.oItoisoacknowledgedothato RAJ KUMAR ARORA theomanagementoofocoachingoisoaocomplexoproblemorequiringo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-30-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

aodetailedoexerciseoinorespectoofoeachoFederation.oItoisoforothiso reasonothatoproposalsotooenableoFederationotoomakeouseoofo professionalo adviceo haveo beeno includedo ino theo sectiono ono improvingomanagementostandards."oo o oo Relyingoonotheosame,oitoisoarguedothatotheostandards,outilizationo andodevelopmentoofocoachesoinorespectoofoeachodisciplineohasobeenorealisedo toobeobasicotooanyolongotermoplanotooimproveoaosportoandotheofederationso wereoadvisedotoomakeoaobetterouseoofoex-Olympiansoandosenioroplayers,o whoohaveotheopotentialoforobecomingoaocoach,obyogivingothemotheoaddedo responsibilityoofocoachingobyousingovariousofacilitiesoincludingointroductiono ofointernationalopatterns,ocoachingogradesoandoskills.oAccountabilityoforotheo performanceoofocoachesowasoalsooproposedotoobeointroducedoatoeveryostage.o Heocontendedothatotheoaboveosaidoimprovementoinostandardsoofocoachingo haveobeenodulyoadoptedoandotheosameohasoyieldedogoodoresultsowhichoiso alsooreflectedofromotheoperformanceoinoWorldoChampionshipsowhereotheo totalo medalo tallyo ofo Indiano teamo includedo 04o goldo medalso ino ao womeno championships.oHeosubmitsothatoevaluationoofotheoathletesoforotheoAsiano Gamesowasoundertakenoonotheoevaluationocriteriaoattachedoaso'Attachmento A'otootheoguidelinesodatedo16.02.2023odoneobyoaoCommitteeocomprisingoofo ao formero Supero Bantamweighto Worldo Champion;o ao foreigno coacho fromo RussiaoandoaoDronacharyaoAwardeeorespondentoNo.5oandoOlympianoando ArjunaoAwardee.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatoselectionoprocessosessionowaso alsoo observedo byo twoo Dronacharyao Awardeeso ando ao reporto hado beeno submittedobyothemotootheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndia,owhereinotheyohaveoo reportedothatothatotheohighoperformanceodirectorohadoclearlyoexplainedotheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-31-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

eligibleopointsoforoeachoboxerobasedoonovariousoparametersoandoevaluationo wasobasedopurelyoonovariousoperformanceoparametersooinoNationaloCamp.o Theo processo waso merit-based,o fairo ando transparent.o Theo Boxerso wereo reportedlyo wello awareo ofo theo scoringo systemo ando basedo ono theo pointso scored,otheorankingohasobeenodoneoinoeachoweightocategoryoandotheosameo keptoonoimprovingoinoaddingosparringoduringoABB.ooAosatisfactoryoreporto withorespectotootheosystemoofoselectionoandoitsotransparencyoandofairnessotoo alloboxersohadobeenosubmittedobyotheoCommitteeoono30.06.2023.oHeothuso contendsothatotheoselectionoprocessocomprisedoofopersonsoofoeminenceoino sportsoduringotheoprocessoofoevaluationoandoselectionoasoperotheomandateo containedoinotheoCodeoofo2011.oTheorespondentsohavingoscoredobetterothano theopetitioners,oandowhichosuchoscoringopatternowasoalsoofollowedowhileo makingoselectionoforotheoWorldoChampionships,oonlyoestablishesothatotheo evaluationoprocessowasofair,otransparentoandoimpartial.oHeofurtheroargueso thato theo petitionerso havingo subjectedo themselveso too theo selectiono criteria/guidelines,othatowereomadeoknownotooalloparticipantsocannototurno backo ando raiseo ao challengeo too theo saido criteriao aftero ano unsuccessfulo participation.o Ito wouldo thuso beo unfairo ando impropero ono theo parto ofo theo petitionersotoocontendothatotheyohaveobeenoprejudicedoonoaccountoofosucho change.oTheoevaluationoisobasedoonomultipleoparametersoandoyardsticksoando noto justo ono anyo individualo centrico performanceo ofo ao player.o Allo theseo parametersoshowotheoagility,oforce,otheoperseverance,otheopersistence,oskillo andoenduranceorequiredotoobeokeptoinomindobyotheoevaluationocommittee.o TheoevaluationoformobeingoinopublicodomainowayobackosinceoFebruaryo2023o wasofullyoknownoandohasoneverobeenosubjectomatteroofoanyochallenge.oo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-32-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

o o Whileorespondingotootheoargumentoofotheopetitionersothatoeveno onotheoaboveosaidoselectionocriteria,otheomarksoofoweightohaveowronglyobeeno giveno too theo respondentso ando thato theo weighto ofo petitionero iso 53.1o kg.o whereasotheobodyoweightooforespondentoNo.6ohasobeeno54.8oandothatotheo markso giveno too theo respondentso ato paro witho theo petitionero areo thuso inappropriateoandoonlyotoogiveoanoundueobenefitotootheosaidorespondent,oheo submitso thato theo aboveo argumento iso basedo ono misinterpretationo ofo theo criteriaoandotheodocuments.oTheobodyoweightoreliedouponobyotheopetitionerso andoavailableoonopageo67oofotheowritopetitionoNo.14491oofo2023oisoweightoato theo timeo ofo CMJo test.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo saido testo iso ao Countero MovementoJumpoTestoonoHawkinoDynamicsoForceoPlates.oItoisocontendedo thatoasoaopartoofotheoathleteotrainingoandoreadinessoassessmentoprotocol,otheo aforesaido testo iso conductedo ono Hawkino Dynamicso Forceo Plateso aso ano indicatoroofoanoathletesoreadinessoandofatigueolevel,oallowingotheocoachesotoo adjustotheirotrainingoregimen.oTheoCMJoisoaomeasureoofolowerobodyopowero andoplaysoaopivotaloroleoinoeverydayoevaluation.oTheoHawkinoDynamicso ForceoPlatesocaptureotheoathlete'sobodyoweightobeforeoeveryojumpoduringo theostabilizationoperiodoofooneosecond.oTheodataoisocriticaloinocalculationoofo everyo jumpo ando provideso comprehensiveo understandingo ofo theo athlete'so performance.oTheosaidobodyoweightoasoassessedoinoCMJotestoisonototheosameo aso theo officialo boxingo weigh-ino protocolso requiredo foro evaluationo ino theo AsianoGames.oInotheoofficialoweigh-in,otheoathleteoisoemptyostomachowhileo inoCMJotestotheoathletesowearotheirofullotrainingoattire,oincludingogymogear,o shoes,otracksuits,oandovariousogymosupportoequipmentolikeowristosupporters,o etc.oTheocircumstancesosurroundingotheoCMJotestodifferosignificantlyofromo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-33-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

theoconditionsoofoanoofficialoweigh-in.oAthletesomayohaveoconsumedomeals,o hydratedothemselvesoadequatelyoandotakenopre-workoutosupplementsoando dieto prioro too theo Strengtho ando Conditioningo session.o Ino someo instances,o Athletesomayohaveoeatenomoreotoocompensateoforotheoexpectedoweightolosso duringotheosession.oThus,otheobodyoweightoasorecordedoduringoCMJotesto shouldonoto beo confusedo withotheo weighto aso anoofficialo weigh-ino forotheo sportingoevent.oHeofurtherosubmitsothatoduringotheotrainingosessions,otheseo weigh-insoareorequiredoforoformulatingoaopersonalizedotrainingoscheduleoando thatotheoweightomayovary.oInohisosupport,oheohasoreferredotootheoevaluationo formsothatohaveobeenoappendedowithotheomisc.oapplicationotoocontendothato theoweightomanagement-cum-complianceomarksogivenotooallotheocandidateso isoequaloi.e.o10omarksoeachohaveobeenogranted.oEachoevaluatorohasograntedo fullo markso too allo athleteso ino theo weighto managemento category.o Consequently,o thereo waso noo elemento ofo anyo arbitraryo discriminationo oro prejudice,orather,otheosameowasoinoaccordanceowithotheoevaluationocriteriao itselfoandowasohavingonoobearingoonotheofinaloweigh-inoforotheointernationalo event.o Theo contentiono ofo theo petitionero thato anyo unfairo markingo foro evaluationobenefitohasobeenogivenotootheorespondentsoisoinappropriateoandoiso basedoonoselectiveoreadingoofotheoevaluationocriteriaoandowithoutodisclosingo theoactualonature,oimportoandoeffectoofosuchoevaluation.o o o Aoreferenceoisoalsoomadeotootheorelaxationoclauseo16oasoperotheo NationaloSportsoDevelopmentoCodeoofoIndia,o2011,owhichoisoreproducedoasoo under:-oo "16.oRelaxationoClauseoofotheoSportsoCodeo2011:oGovernmento shallo haveo theo powero too relaxo anyo ofo theo provisionso ofo theo NationaloSportsoDevelopmentoCodeoofoIndia,o2011oandoothero CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-34-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

instructionso issuedo witho regardo too recognitiono ofo Nationalo SportsoFederationso(NSFs),orenewalooforecognitionoofoNSFsoono annualo basiso ando governanceo ando managemento ofo Indiano OlympicoAssociationo(IOA)oandoNSFs,oasoaospecialoexemptiono whereoconsideredonecessaryoandoexpedientoforotheopromotiono ofosports,osportspersonsoorotooremoveodifficultiesoinogivingotrueo effectotoothatoparticularoprovisionoofotheoSportsoCode,oalwayso beingo guidedo byo ando noto inconsistento witho theo overarchingo spiritoofogoodogovernanceoandoethicaloconductoenshrinedoino theoSportsoCodeo2011.oTheoreasonsoforosuchorelaxationoshallo beorecordedoinowriting.oPowerotoorelaxotheoprovisionowillovesto withoMinisteroIn-chargeoofotheoMinistryoofoYouthoAffairso &o Sports."o o o o Heocontendsothatotheoaboveosaidorelaxationoclauseorelatesotootheo NationaloSportsoFederationoonlyoandoisonotoinorelationotootheoselectionoofoao sportspersono ino anyo event.o Hence,o noo benefito ofo relaxation/concessiono couldohaveobeenograntedoinotheoevaluation/assessmentoundertakenobyotheo aidoofoclauseo16oofotheoNationaloSportsoDevelopmentoCodeoofoIndia,o2011.oo o o Heohasofurtherocontendedothatosoofaroasotheoaddendumodatedo

26.05.2023o iso concerned,o theo sameo waso specifico onlyo foro theo Tokyoo Olympicoandothatotheosaidoaspectoisowelloreflectedofromotheoresponseoofo SportsoAuthorityoofoIndia,odatedo05.07.2023osentotoooneosportoenthusiast.o Theorelevantoextractothereoforeadsothus:-oo Selectiono criteriao foro Asiano Gameso SelectionoCriteriaoforoAsianoGameso haveo beeno changed:o Theo selectiono haveo noto beeno changed-o Selectiono criteriaoofoparticipatingoinoCoachingo criteriao haso noto beeno changed.o Theo Campo ofo Asiano Games-2023o wereo policyoforotheoexemptionoofotrialsoforo changedobyopublishingoanoaddendumo theoWorldoChampionshipoparticipantso CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-35-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

ono datedo 26/05/2023o ando exemptedo existedosinceotheoveryobeginning.oTheo theoBoxerofromotrialowhooparticipatedo addendumoonodatedo26/05/2023owaso ino worldo championship-2023.o Ito iso regardingo theo Inclusiono ofo Tokyoo alsooviolatingoParticipantsoeligibilityo Olympico Participantso eligibilityo foro foro Selectiono Trialso foro ofo Hon'bleo Selectiono Trialso foro Inclusiono ino Supremeo Courto "Ruleo ofo theo Gameso NationaloCoachingoCamp.oAsoperotheo cannotobeo changedoaftero theo Gameso Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto theo criteriao hasostarted".oTheoSupremeoCourtohaso onlyo theo Medalisto ino Lasto Twoo reiteratedothatoaocandidateowhoohaso NationaloChampionshipoandomedalisto participatedoinotheoselectionoprocesso ofo theo Commonwealtho Gameso 2022o adoptedounderoaospecificosetooforuleso ando Asiano Championshipo 2021o &o isoestopped.o 2022owereoeligibleoforotheoTrails.oForo o theo Nationalo Interesto BFIo Includedo o thatotheoTokyooOlympicoparticipantso aso eligibleo foro theo Trails.o It'so ao noo brainero thato Olympico Gameso holdo muchohigheropositionoinotermsoofotheo above-mentionedo Championshipo ando therefore,oneededoconsiderationoforoao chanceoatotheotrialsoforoinclusionoino theo camp.o Theo Changeo waso madeo keepingo ino mindo ofo India'so Interesto notoanyoIndividualso ooo o o o o Hence,oanyoreferenceotootheoaddendumo ofo26.05.2023,owitho respectotooselectionoofotheoteamoforotheoAsianoGameso2023oisomisplaced.oo o o Ito iso arguedo thato theo petitionerso haveo beeno grantedo ao fairo opportunityoofoevaluationoonoaouniformocriteriaoandotheoprivateorespondentso haveobeenorankedomoreomeritorious.oTheoperformanceoofotheorespondentso hasobeenoconsistentoandobetteroasocomparedotootheopetitioners.oEvenothougho CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-36-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

theoprayeroforoaofreshoselectionotrialomayosoundoinnocuous,ohowever,otheo sameowouldoratheroamountotoochangeoofotheorulesoofotheogamesoafterotheo selectionoprocessoandoevaluationohasoalreadyobeenocompletedoandoamountotoo introducingoanoadditionalostage.oo oo ItoisoarguedothatotheoGovernmentoofoIndia,oinoorderotooimproveo India'soperformanceoatoOlympic,ohadostartedotheoTargetoOlympicoPodiumo Schemeo (TOPS)o ino Septembero 2014.o Ito waso ao flagshipo programo ofo theo MinistryoofoYouthoAffairsoandoSportsoforoprovidingofinancialoassistanceoaso welloasotooaddopremiumotootheopreparationoofotheoathletesosoothatotheyocano winomedalsoinotheoOlympics.ooItoisofurtherosubmittedothatorespondentoNo.6oiso aopartoofotheoCoreoGroupoofoTOPS.oTheoathletesoinotheoCoreoGroupoofoTOPSo areoidentifiedobyotheomembersoofoMissonoOlympicoCell.oTheomembersoofo theoMissionoOlympicoCelloareofromoamongstotheoeminentoSportspersonsoando SportsoAdministrators.oTheoaforesaidoCommittee,oinoconsultationowithotheo Nationalo Sportso Federationo ando ono theo basiso ofo variouso performanceo parameters,o selectso onlyo thoseo athleteso whoo haveo theo potentialo too wino Olympico medal(s).o Ito iso furthero averredo thato respondento No.6o couldo noto participateoinotheoNationaloChampionshipsodueotooaoshoulderoinjuryoandoheo wasoundergoingorehabilitationounderotheosupervisionoofosportsoandomedicalo experts.o Ito waso thuso inadvisableo foro respondento No.6otoo competeo ino theo NationaloChampionships.oInoorderotoopreventoanyofurtheroinjury,otheoCoreo GroupoAthleteowasothusoexemptedofromotheoabove.oTheopetitioneroAmito himselfowasosufferingoinjuriesoandowasoundergoingorehabilitationoandoalsoo didonototakeopartoinotheoNationaloChampionships.oTheyowereobothoincludedo ino theo nationalo coachingo campo basedo ono theo selectiono policyo ando aso CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-37-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

memberso ofo theo Coreo Groupo ofo Athleteso shortlistedo byo theo Missiono OlympicoCell.oo o o Theo selectiono policyo ofo theo Boxingo Federationo ofo Indiao empoweredotheohighoperformanceodirectorsoandocoachesotoopickowildocardo entryoofoanyoathleteowhomotheyobelievedotoobeobestosuitedoforotheoNationalo TeamoinoanyoofotheoOlympicoweightodivisions.oSinceotheorespondentoasowello asotheopetitionersowereoalreadyothereoinotheoCoreoGroupoofoTOPSoselectedo members,oaodecisionowasotakenotooincludeorespondentoNo.6oforoparticipationo ino theo Nationalo Camp.o Theo abovesaido powero vestedo witho theo Higho PerformanceoDirectorsowasoonlyotooallowoanoathleteotooparticipateoinotheo NationaloCoachingoCampoandosuchoathleteohadotooyetocompeteowithootherso toomakeohisoplaceoforotheoWorldoChampionship.oSelectionoprocessoandotheo evaluationo waso undertakeno duringo theo Nationalo Coachingo Campo foro participationoinotheoWorldoChampionship.oTheorespondentoNo.6ocompetedo witho theo petitionero ando havingo defeatedo himo ino theo evaluationo criteriao earnedoaoberthotooparticipateoinotheoWorldoChampionshipoinotheoOlympico weightocategory.oTheodecisionoprovedotoobeofruitfuloandorespondentoNo.6o wonoaoBronzeoMedaloatotheoWorldoBoxingoChampionshipoofo2023owhereoheo hadosuccessfullyobeatenotheoWorldoRankoNo.1oholderoandomedalistoatotheo TokyooOlympic.oAsoaomatteroofofact,otheoexistingopolicyouploadedoonotheo websiteo byo theo Boxingo Federationo ofo Indiao ono 06.02.2023o specificallyo providedoforotheoselectionocriteriaoandotheoaddendumodatedo16.03.2023owaso notoanoadditionoofoanyofreshocondition/selectionocriteriaobutowasoratheroonlyo aoclarificatoryoaddendumotooclarifyotheodoubtsowhichotheoboxersohad.oItoiso furtheroaverredothatotheoselectionoprocessoofotheoboxersotooparticipateoinotheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-38-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

AsianoGamesohadonotoyetobeenofinalizedowhenotheyowereobeingoevaluatedo duringotheoperiodo11.03.2023otoo22.03.2023.oHence,oitoisoinappropriateotoo suggesto thato theo selectiono criteriao oro theo conditionso ofo selectiono foro theo Asiano Gameso wereo noto knowno too theo participantso ato thato timeo (duringo selectionoforoworldochampionship).oTheofinaloselectionoofotheoparticipantso forotheoWorldoChampionshipocompletedoafterotheoabovesaidoaddendumohado alreadyo beeno issuedo byo theo respondent-Nationalo Sportso Federation.o Ito cannotothusobeosaidothatotheoaddendumodatedo16.03.2023owasopublishedo withoaoviewotoobenefitoanyoindividual.oo o o Ito iso furthero pointedo outo thato theo Olympico weighto categoryo boxersowereopermittedotooparticipateoinotheoAsianoGamesoforotheoreasonothato aoboxeroundergoesoaolotoofophysicaloandomentalostressoduringochampionshipo andoaoMedalowinnerohasotooundergoonearlyo5otoo7oboutsowithobestorankersoino theoworld.oTheyorequireocertainotimeotoorecoupotheirophysicaloandomentalo strengthotoobeogameoready.oItoisofurtheroaverredothatotheopetitioneronevero raisedoaochallengeotootheoinitialodecision,owherebyotheoHighoPerformanceo Directorso shortlistedo theo petitionerso aso wello aso theo respondento No.6o too participateoinotheoNationaloCamp,oevenothoughotheorespondentono.6ohadoalsoo notoparticipatedoinoNationaloChampionships.oItoisofurtheroarguedothatotheo selectionoprocessohasobeenoundertakenothroughoaotransparentoprocessowhicho waso witnessedo byo theo independento observerso nominatedo byo theo Boxingo FederationoofoIndiaowhoohadodueoconsultationowithotheoparticipantsoofotheo Nationalo Coachingo Campo ando hado reportedo thato theo selectiono processo undertakenoduringotheomonthoofoMayo2023owasotootheoknowledgeoofoallotheo participants.o Ino theo abovesaido evaluationo camp,o whicho waso heldo duringo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-39-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

19.06.2023otoo01.07.2023,otheorespondentoNo.6ohadofaredobetterocomparedo tootheopetitioneroonoallotheoperformanceoparameters.oHence,otheoevaluationo ofotheoparticipantsoinotheoAsianoGamesoasotheoleadoplayersohasobeenothrougho aotransparentoprocessowhichoinvolvesoeminentosportspersonsoandoevaluationo basedo ono multipleo criteria.o Theo petitionero thuso cannoto beo permittedo too impugno theo selectiono onlyo ono theo basiso ofo anyo pointero ino isolationo ando notwithstandingo othero assessmento doneo overo ao periodo ofo nearlyo threeo weeks.oTheodeterminationobyoanoexpertoinotheofieldoofosportoandotheoexerciseo havingobeenoundertakenobyoassociatingotheoInternational/NationaloCoacheso ino theo fieldo ofo Boxing,o theo saido decisiono shouldo noto beo normallyo beo interferedowithobyotheoHighoCourtoasoinoexerciseoofotheopowersoofojudicialo reviewoitoshouldonotosubstituteoitsoopinionoforothatoofotheosportsoexperts.oo o o Referenceo ino thiso regardo iso alsoo madeo too theo chronologicalo eventsocommencingofromotheodateoofoinitiationoofoselectionoprocessotillotheo dateoofoissuanceoofoaddendum,owhichoareotabulatedothus:o Sr.o Dateo Evento Remarkso No.o th1.k o 10 o Januaryo Selectiono TheoselectionoCommitteeowaso 2023o Committeeo ando formedo ando theyo haveo SelectionoPolicyo constitutedo theo selectiono policy.oo th2.k o 20 o Januaryo Eliteo Nationalo Theo Eliteo NationaloCoachingo 2023o CoachingoCampo Campo startso aftero theo Nationals.oo -oAmitogotoaodirectoentry.o (CommonwealthoMedal)o -o Deepako goto ao directo entryo (wildocardoentryoasoperopolicy.o o th3.k o 24 o Januaryo Briefo ono theo TheoHPUo(HighoPerformanceo 2023o selectiono policyo Unit)obriefedoallotheonationalo ando evaluationo Camperso abouto theo selectiono systemo too allo theo policy.o Posto briefing,o theyo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-40-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Campers.oo conducto too goo througho ando signedoit.oo th4.k o 27 o Januaryo TheoEliteoWomeno 3oweeksoofoevaluationostartedo 2023o evaluationo foroselectingotheoAthletesoforo processo foro theo theo IBAo Women'so Worldo IBAo women'so Championshipo2023.o Worldo Championshipo th5.k o 6 o Februaryo Selectiono Policyo TheoSelectionoPolicyowasoalsoo 2023o uploadedo ino presentedo too theo Missiono Websiteo OlympicoCelloandoafterothatoito waso uploadedo ono theo BFI'so website.oo th6.k o 18 o Februaryo Eliteo Womeno Theo Ranko 1o boxero aftero theo 2023o Boxerso evaluationo waso selectedo foro Evaluationo theo IBAo Women'so Worldo Completedo Championship.o th7.k o 5 oMarcho2023o EliteoMenoBoxerso Theo evaluationo waso foro 3o Evaluationo weeks.o Startedo Theo Firsto Weeko Resulto Declaredoono11/03/2023.o Theo Secondo Weeko Resulto Declaredoono18/03/2023.o Theo Finalo Weeko Resulto Declaredoono22/03/2023.o th8.k o 16 oMarcho2023o Theo Addendumo Theo Addendumo waso issuedo foro Clarificationo justo foro clarificationo foro theo ofo theo Policyo athleteso ino ao simplifiedo way.o issuedo Allo theo pointso ino theo addendumohaveoalreadyobeeno mentionedo ino theo Selectiono policy.o nd9.k o 22 oMarcho2023o Assessmento TheofinaloteamoforotheoWorldo Resutso Men'so Championshipo waso declared.o th10.ko 26 oMarcho2023o IBAo Women'so Indiano Womeno Boxerso Worldo finishedoatorankedoatoNo.1obyo Championship,o winningo 4o Goldo Medalso ando 2023o thiso iso oneo ofo theo besto performancesoofoIndiaoinotheo WorldoChampionshipo th th11.ko 30 o April-14 o IBAoMen'soWorldo Firsto timeo ino historyo Indiao Mayo2023o Championshipo wono 3o medalso ino theo Worldo 2023o Championshipo th th12.ko 9 o May-11 o Trialso foro Theowinneroofotheseotrialsowillo Mayo2023o(Eliteo inclusiono ino goo forwardo too challengeo theo WomenoTrial).o Nationalo 2023o Worldo Championshipo Coachingo Campo participantoforoaoplaceoatotheo

(NCC)o –o Asiano Asiano Gameso duringo theo GamesoCampo Evaluationo processo ino theoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-41-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

NCC.o th13.ko 16 oMay,o2023o ReturningoofoEliteo TheoEliteoMenoteamoreturnedo Meno Teamo fromo fromo Uzbekistano aftero theo Worldo Men'soWorldoChampionship.o Championshipo tho th14.ko 6 -8 oJuneo2023o Trialso foro Theowinneroofotheseotrialsowillo (Eliteo Meno inclusiono ino goo forwardo too challengeo theo Trials)o Nationalo 2023o Worldo Championshipo Coachingo Campo participantoforoaoplaceoatotheo

(NCC)o –Asiano Asiano Gameso duringo theo GamesoCampo EvaluationoProcess.o th st15.ko 19 o June-01 o Eliteo Meno &o Theo Evaluationo waso foro 2o Julyo2023o Womeno Boxerso Weeks:o Evaluationoforotheo -Weeko 1o resulto declaredo on:o AsianoGameso 24.06.2023o -Weeko 2o resulto declaredo on:o

01.07.2023o rd16.ko 3 oJulyo2023o ListoSentotooIOAo TheoListoofoMainoandoReserveo Participanto foro theo Asiano GamesowereosentotooIOA.o th17.ko 24 oAugusto2023o MYASoPublishedo Theo Finalo Listo haso beeno theoFinaloListoforo publishedobyoMYASoandotheo theoAsianoGameso listosubmittedotooAsianoGameso Committee.o rd18.ko 3 o Septembero Teamoleftoforotheo Theo Teamo lefto foro theo 2023o Trainingo Campo TrainingoCampoinoChinaoprioro andoAsianoGameso tooAsianoGames.o o o o o oo Heo furthero submitso thato theo Gameso areo likelyo too starto fromo

23.09.2023oi.e.owithinoaoperiodoofothreeodaysoandoanyoradicalochangeoinotheo playerso /sportspersonso iso likelyo too haveo ao seriouso impacto ono theo mentalo healthoandoabilityoofotheoparticipant/sportsperson.oo o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondentso1oando3osubmitsothatotheo selectiono ando theo evaluationo ofo theo sportso personso iso requiredo too beo undertakenobyotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoandothatotheyohadonooroleoino suchoselection.oTheyoreiterateotheosubmissionsoadvancedobyotheocounseloforo respondentsoNo.4otoo7.oo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-42-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

o o Learnedo counselo foro respondento No.2o –Indiano Olympico Associationoalsoosupportsoandoreiteratedotheoargumentsoadvancedoonobehalfo oforespondentsoNo.4otoo7.oo oo Inorejoinder,olearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersoarguedothatotheo respondentsohadoinofactoappointedoaoGovernmentoObserveroforooverseeingo theo selectiono processo foro theo women'so team.o Ifo theo stipulationo ofo appointmento ofo Governmento observero waso dispensedo witho thereo waso noo suchooccasionoforoappointmentoofotheoobserver.oItoisovehementlyoarguedothato theoCodeoofo2011oprovidesoforodeterminingoanoadvancedoselectionocriteriao ino aotimeo frameo ofo twoo toothreeo yearso whereasoino theo presento case,otheo selectionocriteriaowasochangedobyotheorespondentsoforothreeotimesowithinoao veryoshortoperiodoofoFebruaryo2023otooMayo2023.oSuchochangesowereotailoro madeotoosuitotootheorequirementsoofotheoprivateorespondentsosooasotoomakeo theoeligibleotooparticipateoinotheoCamp.oTheoevaluationoundertakenobyothemo doesonotoconformotootheostipulationsocontainedoinotheoCodeoofo2011.oHeo furtherocontendsowithovehemenceothatoevaluatingoExpertsowereosupposedotoo giveomarks/comments;oonotheobasisowhereofosuchoanoassessmentohasobeeno doneo ando thato ino theo absenceo ofo reasons/explanationo foro theo evaluationo done,otheoassessmentowouldobeovitiated.oHeoreiteratedorelianceoonotheoPolicyo (Annexureo P-5)o too contendo thato aso pero theo initialo eligibilityo conditionso prescribedo foro beingo eligibleo too participateo ino theo Nationalo Camp,o theo privateorespondentsowereonotoeligible.oHence,othereowasonoooccasionoforo assessment/evaluationoofotheoprivateorespondentsoonceotheosaidorespondentso wereo noto eligibleo too participateo ino theo Nationalo Camp.o Hence,o theo petitionersowereoprejudicedoinitiallyoatothatostageoitself.oNotwithstandingo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-43-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

theirolackoofoeligibility,otheoprivateorespondentsowereoselectedoforotheoteamo tooparticipateoinotheoWorldoChampionships.ooHeofurtherocontendsothatotheo aforesaidoselectiono guidelineso wereo prescribedo onlyo foro shorto listingo theo highoperformanceoplayersotooparticipateoinotheoWorldoChampionshipsoando wereonototoobeoheldoapplicableoforotheoAsianoGamesosinceotheoabovesaido guidelineso itselfo stipulatedo thato ao Gold/Silvero Medalisto ino theo saido championshipowouldonotohaveotooundergooanyofurtherotrialsoandowouldobeo automaticallyoselectedobyotheoOlympicoqualifieroeventoatotheoAsianoGameso 2023.o Heo furthero arguedo thato foro othero categories,o ao selectiono trialo waso necessary.oSinceotheorespondentoNo.6owasonotoaoGold/SilveroMedalistoando hadowonoaoBronzeoMedaloonly,oinotheoWorldoChampionships,ohence,oheowaso liableotooundergootheoselectionotrialsotoogooforotheoCamp.oAowinneroofotheseo selectiono trialso wouldo beo ao challengero too theo participanto ofo theo Worldo Championship.oSinceotheorespondentoNo.6owasoaoBronzeoMedalistoinotheo Worldo Championships,o heo waso requiredo too goo througho theo processo ofo selectionotrialsobeforeotheoteamocouldobeoselected.oItoisocontendedothatotheo addendumo datedo 26.05.2023,o exemptingo theo participantso ofo Worldo Championshipofromofacingotheoselectionotrialsoextendedoanoundueoleverageo too theo privateo respondentso too stealo ao marcho ando too overcomeo theiro ineligibility.o o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersoalsooplacedorelianceoonotheo judgmento ofo Hon'bleo theo Supremeo Courto ino theo mattero ofo"Dr.o (Major)o MeetaoSahaioVersusoStateoofoBiharoandoothers"obearingoCiviloAppealoNo.o 9482oofo2019otoocontendothatomereoparticipationoinotheoselectionoprocesso doesonototakeoawayotheorightoofoanounselectedocandidateotoochallengeotheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-44-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

procedureowhereothereoisoanoapparentoillegalityoinotheoselectionoprocess.oTheo relevantoextractoofotheosameoisoreproducedohereinafterobelow:o "13.o Ono theo othero hand,o learnedo counselo foro Respondentso questionedo theo maintainabilityo ofo theo appellant'so challengeo ando urgedo thato onceo ao candidateo hado participatedo ino ao recruitmento process,o he/sheo couldo noto ato ao latero stageo challengeoitsocorrectnessomerelyobecauseoofohavingofailedoino selection.oItowasocontendedothatotheoappellantowasotakingo'twoo shots'oatosuccess,oandoherochallengeowasoopposedoforobeingo opportunistic.oFurtheroitowasoarguedobyotheorespondentsothato theo appellant'so attempto too drawo inferenceo fromo theo Dentisto Ruleso haso rightlyo noto beeno acceptedo byo theo Higho Court.o Moreover,o theo advertisemento waso showno aso beingo merelyo clarificatoryoinostatingothatomarksoshalloonlyobeograntedoforo workoexperienceoinohospitalsoofoGovernmentoofoBiharo 14-15.o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

16.oo Furthermore,o beforeo beginningo analysiso ofo theo legalo issuesoinvolved,oitoisonecessaryotoofirstoaddressotheopreliminaryo issue.o Theo maintainabilityo ofo theo veryo challengeo byo theo appellantohasobeenoquestionedoonotheogroundothatosheohavingo partakenoinotheoselectionoprocessocannotolaterochallengeoitodueo too mereo failureo ino selection.o Theo counselo foro respondentso reliedouponoaocatenaoofodecisionsoofothisoCourtotoosubstantiateo hisoobjection.o

17.o o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

18.oHowever,oweomustodifferentiateofromothisoprincipleoinsofaro asotheo candidateo byo agreeingo6o participateoino theoselectiono processo onlyo acceptso theo prescribedo procedureo ando noto theo illegalityo ino it.o Ino ao situationo whereo ao candidateo allegeso misconstructiono ofo statutoryo ruleso ando discriminatingo consequenceso arisingo therefrom,o theo sameo cannoto beo condonedomerelyobecauseoaocandidateohasopartakenoinoit.oTheo constitutionaloschemeoisosacrosanctoandoitsoviolationoinoanyo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-45-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

manneroisoimpermissible.oInofact,oaocandidateomayonotohaveo locusotooassailotheoincurableoillegalityooroderogationoofotheo provisionsoofotheoConstitution,ounlessohe/sheoparticipatesoino theoselectionoprocess.o

19.oo o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

20.o Theo appellanto haso thuso rightlyo noto challengedo theo selectiono procedureo buto haso narrowedo hero claimo too onlyo againstotheorespondents'ointerpretationoofoworkoexperience'oaso partoofomeritodetermination.oSinceointerpretationoofoaostatuteo ororuleoisotheoexclusiveodomainoofoCourts,oandogivenotheoscopeo ofojudicialoreviewoinodelineatingosuchocriteria,otheoappellant'so challengeocannotobeoturnedodownoatotheothreshold.oHowever,o weoareonotocommentingospecificallyoonotheomeritoofoappellant'so case,oandoouro determinationo isoalienotoo theooutcomeoofotheo selectionoprocess.oItoisopossibleopostowhatoisoheldohereinaftero thatosheobeoselected,ooronot."o o o o o HeoalsoorefersotootheojudgmentoofoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourto inotheomatteroofo"KrishnaoRaio(Dead)othroughoLRsoandoothersoVersus.o BanarasoHinduoUniversityothroughooRegistraroandoothers"obearingoCivilo AppealoNos.o4578-4580oofo2022otoocontendothatoprincipleoofoacquiescenceo andoestoppelowouldonotoapplyoagainstotheolawoandotheorespondentsocannoto availo anyo benefito ofo bindingo estoppel.o Heo furthero submitso thato ao mereo participationoinotheoevaluationoprocessoshouldonotobeoconstruedoasohavingo consentedo too subjecto too theo same.o Theo relevanto extracto ofo theo sameo iso reproducedohereinafterobelow:o "3.oo InotheseothreeoCiviloAppeals,othisoCourtohasobeenocalledo upono too decideo whethero principleo ofo estoppelo ando acquiescenceo willo prevailo overo statutoryo serviceo ruleso prescribingo theo procedureo foro promotiono ofo Class-IVo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-46-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

employeeso too Class-IIIo workingo ino theo Banaraso Hinduo Universityo (BHU),o Varanasi,o ao Centralo University.o Theo learnedoSingleoJudgeowasoofotheoviewothatotheostatutoryoruleso wouldoprevailoandomustobeostrictlyoadheredoto,owhereas,otheo DivisionoBench,oalthough,oagreeingowithotheoreasoningoofotheo learnedoSingleoJudgeothatotheoprocedureoprescribedounderotheo rulesowasoviolated,ostilloproceededotoosetoasideotheojudgmentoofo theolearnedoSingleoJudgeoapplyingotheoprincipleoofoestoppelo ando acquiescenceo overo ando aboveo theo eligibilityo conditionso havingostatutoryoforceolaidodownobyotheostatutoryorules.o 4-9.o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

10.oo TheolearnedoSingleoJudgeoallowedotheowritopetition.oIto quashedo theo orderso impugnedo datedo 05.06.2007o ando

02.07.2007oasoalsootheoappointmentsooforespondentoNos.3otoo 16oonoClass-oIIIopostoandofurtherodirectedoBHUotooholdofresho selectionsoforopromotionotootheopostoofoClassoIII,ocompleteotheo sameoexpeditiouslyowithinothreeomonths,ostrictlyoinoaccordanceo withotheoRulesoandoinotheolightoofoobservationsomadeoabove.oIto alsooawardedocostsoquantifiedoatoRs.50,000/-.oTheooperativeo partoofotheojudgmentoofolearnedoSingleoJudgeoisoreproducedo hereunder:o

56.oo Ino theo result,o theo writo petitiono iso allowed,o Impugnedo orderso datedo 5.6.2007o ando 2.7.2007o ando appointmentso ofo respondentso 3o too 16o ono ClassoIV-postsoareoherebyoquashed.o

57.oo TheoUniversityoisodirectedotooholdofreshoselectiono foropromotionotootheopostoofoClassoIIIoagainstotheo vacancieso foro whicho selectiono waso heldo byo notificationodatedo 17.12.2005o ando completeo theo sameoexpeditiouslyoandoinoanyocase,owithinothreeo monthsofromotheodateoofoproductionoofocertifiedo copyo ofo thiso ordero strictlyo ino accordanceo witho Ruleso ando ino theo lighto ofo observationso madeo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-47-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

11.o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

12.oo BHUo aso alsoo theo privateo respondento nos.o 3o too 16o preferredo intra-courto Appealso registeredo Specialo Appealo No.24oofo2012o(BanarasoHinduoUniversityoandoanotherov.oSrio KrishnaoRaioandoothers),oSpecialoAppealoNo.9oofo2012o(Shrio SarvjitoSinghoandoothersov.oSrioKrishnaoRaioandoothers)oando Specialo Appealo No.25o ofo 2012o (Ramo Kishoreo Pandeyo ando othersov.oBanarasoHinduoUniversityoandoothers).oTheoDivisiono Benchovideojudgmentodatedo29.07.2016owasoofotheoview,oaso alreadyostatedoabove,othatotheoappellantsohavingoappearedoino theo examinationo processo aso alsoo theo interviewo withouto anyo protest,ouponobeingounsuccessfulocouldonotohaveochallengedo theo selectiono process.o Theo Divisiono Bencho reliedo upono ao numbero ofo decisions,o whicho weo shallo shortlyo discuss,o ino supporto ofo itso viewo ando accordinglyo allowedo theo Specialo Appeals,osetoasideotheojudgmentoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeo andodismissedotheowritopetition.o 13-20.o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

21.oo Whatoweonoticeoisothat,otheoDivisionoBenchoapprovedotheo reasoningoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudge.oTheorelevantoextractoofo theojudgmentoofotheoDivisionoBenchoisoreproducedobelow:o "Learnedo Singleo Judgeo aso alreadyo notedo aboveo haso rightlyoproceededotooobserveothatointerviewowasonotoato allosubscribedobyotheoprovisionsoholdingotheofield.oWeo areo alsoo ofo theo sameo viewo thato procedureo prescribedo oughto too haveo beeno adheredo too byo theo Boardo ofo Examiners.oBoardoofoExaminersoonotheiroownocouldonoto haveochangedotheoprocedureoalreadyoholdingotheofieldo asolaidodownobyotheoExecutiveoCouncil."o

22.oo However,otheoDivisionoBenchofelloinoerroroinoapplyingo theoprincipleoofoestoppelothatotheoappellantsohavingoappearedo ino theo interviewo ando beingo unsuccessfulo proceededo too challengeotheo sameoando ono thato groundo alone,oallowedotheo RAJ KUMAR ARORA appeals,osetoasideotheojudgmentoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudge.o CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-48-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

Theo Divisiono Bencho havingo approvedo theo reasoningo ofo theo learnedo Singleo Judge,o oughto noto too haveo interferedo ino theo judgmentoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeoonoaotechnicaloplea.oTheo DivisionoBenchooughtotoohaveoconsideredothatotheoappellantso wereoClass-oIVoemployeesoworkingofromo1977oonwardsoando expectingo fromo themo too haveo raisedo seriouso objectiono oro protesto ato theo stageo ofo interviewo ando understandingo theo principlesoofochangingotheoRulesoofotheogame,owasotooofar-fetched,ounreasonableoandounwarranted.o

23.oo TheocaseolawsoreliedouponobyotheoDivisionoBenchowouldo haveonooapplicationoinotheofactsoofotheopresentocaseoasononeoofo theojudgmentsoreliedouponobyotheoDivisionoBencholaidodowno thatoprincipleoofoestoppelowouldobeoaboveolaw.oItoisosettledo principleothatoprincipleoofoestoppelocannotooverrideotheolaw.o Theo manualo dulyo approvedo byo theo Executiveo Councilo willo prevailooveroanyosuchoprincipleoofoestoppelooroacquiescence.o 24-30oo XXXXoo XXXXoooo XXXXoo XXXXo

31.o Furthero ino theo caseo ofo Tatao Chemicalso Ltd.o v.o CommissioneroofoCustomso(preventive),oJamnagar,o2015o(11)o SCCo628,oitohasobeenolaidodownothatothereocanobeonooestoppelo againstolaw.oIfotheolaworequiresosomethingotoobeodoneoinoao particularomanner,othenoitomustobeodoneoinothatomanner,oandoifo itoisonotodoneoinothatomanner,othenoitowouldohaveonooexistenceo inotheoeyeoofotheolaw.oParagrapho18oofotheosaidojudgmentoiso reproducedobelow:o "18o Theo Tribunal'so judgmento haso proceededo ono theo basiso thato eveno thougho theo sampleso wereo drawno contraryo too law,o theo appellantso wouldo beo estoppedo becauseo theiro representativeo waso presento wheno theo sampleso wereo drawno ando theyo dido noto objecto immediately.oThisoisoaocompletelyoperverseofindingobotho onofactoandolaw.oOnofact,oitohasobeenomoreothanoamplyo provedothatonoorepresentativeoofotheoappellantowas,oino RAJ KUMAR ARORA fact,opresentoatotheotimeotheoCustom'soInspectorotookotheo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-49-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

samples.oShrioK.M.oJaniowhoowasoallegedlyopresentonoto onlyostatedothatoheodidonotorepresentotheoClearingoAgento ofotheoappellantsoinothatoheowasonototheiroemployeeobuto alsoostatedothatoheowasonotopresentowhenotheosampleso wereo taken.o Ino fact,o therefore,o thereo waso noo representativeoofotheoappellantsowhenotheosamplesowereo taken.o Ino lawo equallyo theo Tribunalo oughto too haveo realizedothatothereocanobeonooestoppeloagainstolaw.oIfo theolaworequiresothatosomethingobeodoneoinoaoparticularo manner,oitomustobeodoneoinothatomanner,oandoifonotodoneo inothatomannerohasonooexistenceoinotheoeyeoofolawoatoall.o Theo Customso Authoritieso areo noto absolvedo fromo followingo theo lawo dependingo upono theo actso ofo ao particularo assessee.o Somethingo thato iso illegalo cannoto convertoitselfointoosomethingolegalobyotheoactoofoaothirdo person."o o oo o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoando haveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoandorecordoavailableoonocaseofileowitho theiroableoassistance.oo o o Theoissueowhichohasobeenobroughtoupoforoadjudicationobeforeo thisoCourtorequiresoconsiderationoofotheoprocedureofollowedoforoselectiono beforeoconcludingoasotoowhetherotheosameoviolatesoCodeoofo2011ooronot.o TheoNationaloSportsoDevelopmentoIndiaoCodeo–o2011ohasobeenoadoptedo witho ano objecto ofo goodo governanceo practiceso ando healthyo sportso developmentoinotheocountry.oTheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaowhichoisotheo NationaloSportsoFederationohadoissuedoaoselectionopolicyoforoinformationoofo theo sportso personso ono 16.02.2022o foro selectiono ofo boxerso foro variouso tournamentsoincludingoAsianoGamesoasowelloasoCommonoWealthoGamesoofo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-50-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

2022.oTheoselectionotrialsoforotheoAsianoGameso2022o(whichowasopostponedo onoaccountoofoCovido–o19oPandemicoandohasobeenoheldoinotheoyearo2023)o wereotoobeoheldoinotheomidstoofo2022.oTheoSelectionoCommitteeocomprisedo ofotheoPresidentoofotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiao(orohisoNominee)oando expertso fromo panelo ofo reputedo veterano boxerso (preferablyo Arjuna/DronacharyaoAwardeesoandoeminentopersonsoofotheosport).oo o o Pursuantotootheoselectionotrialsofromo21.5.2022otoo22.06.2022,o tooselectotheoboxersotooparticipateoinotheoCommonoWealthoGames,o2022,otheo petitionero No.1o aso wello aso privateo respondento No.6,o wereo selectedo too participateoinotheoCommonoWealthoGamesowhereinotheopetitionerowonotheo goldomedal.oo oo AsotheoAsianoGamesowereopostponedo,theoselectionocriteriaoforo Nationalo CoachingoCampo ando theo Worldo Championshipsoaso wello asotheo Asiano Gameso wereo thereaftero circulatedo alongo witho Athleteo Evaluationo Formo aso "Attachmento A."o Aso pero theo aboveo selectiono criteria,o ao sportso personowasotoofulfillotheoeligibilityoconditionsomentionedothereinoandoano Athleteo waso alsoo requiredo too meeto ato leasto oneo ofo theo performanceo parametersotooparticipateoinotheocollectiveotrainingobeforeoadvancingotootheo stageoofoselection.oTheosaidorequirementsowereothatotheoanoathleteoshouldo haveowonogoldoandosilveroatoEliteoNationaloChampionshipsoofo2022;ooroheoiso aoMedalistoatotheoMaleoWorldoChampionshipo2021ooroaomedalistoatotheo CommonoWealthoGameso2022.oTheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoandotheo HighoperformanceoDirectorsoasowelloasotheoCoachingoTeamocouldoselectoano athleteo whoo theyo believedo theo besto suitedo too participateo ino theo Nationalo Teamowhenotheoquotaocouldonotobeofilledoupofromotheoaboveocriteria.oAo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-51-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

discretionaryopowerowasoalsoovestedowithotheoHighoPerformanceoDirectorso toopickoaowildocardotooparticipateoinoanyoofotheoOlympicoweightocategoryoato theirosoleodiscretion.oTheoaboveosaidopoweroisocrucialosinceotheostandoofotheo respondentso iso thato theo Higho performanceo Directorso hado exercisedo thiso discretiono basedo ono objectiveo assessmento too shortlisto theo privateo respondentsoandoexemptionofromoNationaloChampionshipowasoextendedotoo bothotheoparties.oo o o OnceotheoevaluationoasoperoAttachmentoAowasocomplete,oallo evaluationso wereo too beo submittedo too theo Higho Performanceo Committeeo comprisingoofoSecretaryoGeneraloofotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndia,oHigho Performanceo Directorso ando Heado Coacheso whoo wereo too reviewo allo evaluationso ando too selecto theo Eliteo Nationalo Teamo too participateo ino theo respectiveoWorldoChampionships.oTheoathletesowhoowereonotoselectedotoo theoEliteoNationaloTeamowereotooremainoinotheohighoperformanceopool.oIto wasoalsooprescribedothatotheoathleteowhooachievedogold/silveroatotheoWorldo Championshipso wouldo beo automatico selectiono foro theo firsto Olympico qualifieroatotheoAsianoGames.oTrialsoforotheoremainingoweightocategorieso (whoo hado noto achievedo gold/silvero medalso ato theo 2023o Worldo Championships)owereotoobeoheld.oToobeoeligibleotooparticipateoinotheotrials,o ano athleteo o musto haveo beeno ao campero ofo Nationalo Coachingo Campo ando medalledoatooneoofotheoNationaloChampionshipso2021-22ooroinotheopreviouso AsianoGamesooroCommonoWealthoGamesooroWorldoChampionships.oTheo winnero ofo theo trialso soo heldo waso too challengeo theo worldo championshipo participantsoforoaoplaceoatotheoAsianoGames.oAnoaddendumotootheoselectiono criteriao waso issuedo byo theo respondentso ono 16.03.2023o prescribingo theo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-52-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

eligibilityo too participateo ino theo trialso ando allowingo participanto ofo Worldo Championship,o2023,oanoexceptionofromotheoselectionotrials.ooTheowinnero wasothenotoochallengeotheoparticipantoforoaomatch.oTheoaddendumodatedo

16.03.2023oalsooprescribedoforotrialsoforoalloOlympicoweightocategories,oforo athletesootherothanothoseowhooparticipatedoinotheoOlympicoGamesoatoWorldo Championships.oHence,otheotrialsowereoconfinedoforotheoweightocategorieso forotheoathletesootherothanothoseowhooparticipatedoinotheoOlympicoweighto categoriesoatotheoworldochampionships,oandonotowithorespectotootheoathleteso whoohadoparticipatedoinotheoWorldoChampionshipsoinotheoOlympicoweighto categories.oo oo TheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoissuedoaofurtheroclarificatoryo addendumotootheoselectionocriteriaoforotheoAsianoGamesoasoapprovedobyotheo SelectionoCommitteeoinotheomeetingoheldoono26.02.2023owhichowas,oinofact,o reiterationoofotheoaboveosaidoaddendumoofo16.03.3023.ooo o o Ao comparisono ofo theo addendumo too theo selectiono criteriao approvedoinotheomeetingoheldoono26.05.2023oasowelloasotheoaddendumodatedo

16.03.2023oshowsothatotheosameoareoverbatimoandoitocannotobeoconstruedoaso introductionoofoanyofreshochange.o oo Theo aboveo saido exemptiono hado beeno grantedo too allo thoseo athletesowhoohadoparticipatedoinotheoWorldoChampionshipsoandowasonoto restrictedotootheoprivateorespondentsosingly.oTheoobjectoofoexemptionofromo theo selectiono trialo waso too granto someo timeo too theo playerso whoo hado participatedoinotheoWorldoChampionshipsosooasotoorecoveroinohealth,obodyo andomindoforotheonextochampionshipoi.e.otheoAsianoGames.oTheoexemptiono wasothusobasedoonoobjectiveoconsiderationsoandowasoonlyoforotheoselectiono CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-53-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

trial.oHowever,otheyowereonotoexemptedofromotheoevaluationoatotheoNationalo CoachingoCampoinotheoOlympicoweightocategoryowhichowasorequiredotoobeo undergoneoinotermsoofotheopre-approvedoevaluationocriteria.oTheoevaluationo ofo theo boxerso waso carriedo outo duringo theo Nationalo Coachingo Campo byo associatingo theo independento personso ando ono theo basiso ofo pre-disclosedo criteria.oTheocopyoofotheolistoofotheomarksogivenotootheopetitionersoduringotheo assessmentohasobeenoattached.oTheoevaluatorsoincludedooneoBernardoDunneo whooisoaoformeroIrishoProfessionaloBoxeroandoaoEuropeanoBantamoWeighto Champion.o Theo secondo evaluatoro waso Dmitrijo Dmitruko whoo iso ao higho performanceo foreigno coacho ando hadobeeno ao coacho forotheo Irisho Athletico BoxingoAssociation.oTheoIrishoplayerohadodoneotwooworldochampionship,o silveromedaloinotheolightoheavyoweightocategoryoasowelloasoaobronzeomedalo rdofoforeignoboxeroinotheoEuropeanoGames.oTheo3 oevaluatorowasotheoMen'so boxingoheadocoachoandoisoaoDronacharyaoawardee.oAnotheroevaluatorowaso B.S.oYadavowhooisoaorenownedoIndianoboxerohavingowonobronzeomedaloino 1990oAsianoChampionshipoandoisoanoArjunaoAwardeeoforoboxingoino1991.o HeohadorepresentedoIndiao19otimesoinoInternationaloeventsoandohasoaomedalo recordoofo 3osilvero ando7o bronzeo medalso includingo theo Commono Wealtho Games,oSAFoGames,oAsianoChampionships,oCommonoWealthoGames.oHeo wasoadjudgedoasoaopromisingoboxeroofoSixthoWorldoChampionshipoandohaso numerousotrophies/appreciationsotoohisocredit.oAllotheseohighoperformanceo directors/independento evaluatorso testedo theo skills,o agility,o performance,o sustenance,o mentalo fitness,o physicalo fitnesso etc.o overo theo periodo fromo

11.03.2023otoo22.03.2023obeforeoshortolistingothemotooparticipateoinotheo th thWorldo Championshipso ando thereafter,o betweeno 24 o Juneo tillo 30 o June,o CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-54-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

beforeoparticipationoinotheoAsianoGames.oTheorespondentofiguredohigheroino theoorderoofomeritoasocomparedotootheopetitioneroAmit.oTheoevaluationsoaso welloasotheomarksoallottedobyotheorespectiveohighoperformanceodirectorso showothatothereowereodifferentoperformanceoparametersoandoscoringopatterno madeoknownotootheoplayersoinoadvance.oFurther,otheoBoxingoFederationoofo IndiaoalsoonominatedotwooindependentoobserversonamelyoS.R.oSinghoandoD.o Chanderpalo whoo wereo botho Dronacharyao awardeeo too observeo theo fullo sparringosessionoandotheyoreportedothatotheosystemoofoevaluationoasowelloaso theoparametersoadoptedowereogood,ofairoandotransparentoandoallotheoboxerso asowelloasocoachesowhooattendedotheonationalogamesowereofullyomadeoawareo ofotheoscoringosystem.oTheyoconveyedotheirosatisfactionoaboutotheoscoringo system,o itso transparencyo ando fairnesso too allo theo boxerso aso pero theiro assessmentosubmittedotootheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoono30.06.2023.ooo oo Theogrievanceoespousedobyotheopetitionerowasothatothereowasoao changeoofocriteriaoafterotheorulesoofotheogamesohadobegunoandothatoevenoao participantoinotheoworldochampionshipohadobeenograntedorelaxationowhicho wasoinoconflictowithotheoprovisionsoofotheoNationaloSportsoDevelopmento IndiaoCodeo–o2011.oItoisoessentialotooobserveohereothatotheosaidoaddendumotoo theo selectiono criteriao hado beeno publishedo ino theo Marcho 2023o wheno theo selectionoofotheoteamotooparticipateoinotheoworldochampionshipso2023owaso underoprocessoandotheotrialowereodecidedotoobeoheldoonlyoforotheoOlympico weighto categoryo foroano athleteo otherothano thoseo whooparticipatedo inotheo Olympicoweightocategoryoatoworldochampionship.oHence,oalloathletesowereo fullyoapprisedothatotheotrialoforotheosportsopersonsoparticipatingoinotheoworldo championshipo2023owereonototoobeoheld.oTheopetitioneroperformedobetteroato CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-55-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

theoNationaloCampoandowasoshortlistedoforotheoworldochampionshipowhereo heowonoaobronzeomedaloandowasothusoalreadyoexemptedofromoparticipatingo inotheotrialoforoattendingotheonationaloselectionocampoforoselectionoofoteamotoo theoAsianoGames.oTheosaidoexemptionohavingobeenoextendedouniversallyotoo allotheoparticipants,oitocannotobeoheldotoobeochangingotheoruleoafterotheogameo hadobegunosinceotheoaboveosaidoaddendumohadobeenoputoinoplaceobeforeo selectionoofotheoteamoforoworldochampionshipowhenoevenotheopetitionerohado benefitoofotheosaidoopportunity.oo oo Eveno thereafter,o theo petitionerso aso wello aso theo privateo threspondentoparticipatedoinotheonationalocoachingocampoheldoduringo24 otoo th30 o Juneo 2023o ando waso evaluatedo alongo witho theo privateo respondentso herein.oHighoPerformanceoandoIndependentoDirectors,owhoowereoeminento sportso persons,o hado carriedo outo evaluationo whicho sucho evaluationo ando assessmento criteriao ando parameterso wereo furthero reviewedo byo twoo independentoobserversoappointedobyotheoBoxingoFederationoofoIndiaoando thatothoseoobserversoagainoareotheoDronachayraoawardeesoandoareoeminento sportso persons.o Theo respondento featuredo highero ino merito againsto theo petitioneroandomadeotootheonationaloteamotoorepresentoatotheoAsianoGamesoino Hangzhou,oChina.oTheopetitionerohadoextractedoonlyosomeopartoofotheoresulto too showo aso ifo hiso performanceo parameterso wereo bettero aso comparedo too respondentoNo.6,ohowever,oitohasobeenoclarifiedobyotheorespondentsothatotheo parametersoreliedouponobyotheopetitionersoforoshowingotheiromeritoisonotoao completeo evaluationo ando iso onlyo oneo ofo theo selectiono parameters.o Theo completeo assessmento ando evaluationo scoreo haso beeno giveno byo themo foro overalloassessmentoofotheointeroseomeritoofotheocandidatesowhereoprivateo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-56-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

respondentso areo assessedo better.o Theo petitionerso hado availedo theiro fairo chanceo too participateo ino theo coachingo ando subjectedo themselveso too evaluationoasoperotheoevaluationocriteria.oo oo Theochallengeotootheosaidorecommendationowasomadeoforotheo firstotimeoafterotheopetitionerofailedotoomakeoitotootheoselectolistotooparticipateo inotheoongoingoAsianoGames.oNooprejudiceoisoapparentlyoreflectedoasofaroaso chanceoofoparticipationoandoestablishingohisosuperiorityoandomeritooveroando aboveotheoselectedoathleteoisoconcerned,odueoopportunityowasoextendedotoo theopetitioneroatoallooccasionsoatoparowithotheoothers.oo o o Itoisofurtheroevidentofromoaoperusaloofotheoaboveothatoinosoofaro asotheoCodeoofo2011oisoconcerned,otheosameoprescribesoonlyoforoselectiono processo too beo fair;o transparento ando impartial.o Theo authorityo foro determinationo ofo theo criteriao haso beeno lefto too theo respectiveoNSF.o Eveno otherwise,o thereo cano beo noo uniformo assessmento criteriao aso theo selectiono requirementowouldochangeoforoeachosport.oTheoevaluationoparametersoforo eachodisciplineomayoalsoobeodifferentoconsideringotheopastoperformancesoofo theocompetingoteamsoinotheorespectiveosportsoandoalsootheoconditionoofotheo zoneowhereotheochampionshipoorogamesowereobeingoheld.oo oo Itoisoalsoonotodisputedothatoevaluationohasobeenoundertakenobyo eminento sportso personso includingo foreigno expertso ando Dronacharyao ando Arjunaoawardee.oIntegrityoandocredibilityoofopersonsoofosuchoeminenceoiso nototoobeoimpeachedomerelyobecauseoaoleftooutoparticipantofeelsohimselfotoo beobetterothanotheooneoselected.oSuchoimputationsocanobeolevelledoatoaodropo ofohatoandocannotobeogivenoanyoundueoweightageoasoitohasotheopotentialorisko CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-57-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

ofodamagingotheoentireoselection.oAochallengeroisorequiredotooestablishomoreo thano theo supportingo theo allegationso basedo ono baskingo gloryo ofo pasto performance.oSomeoprimaofacieoevidence/materialotoomakeooutoaocaseomusto beo broughto ono recordo beforeo ao judicialo interventiono ino sucho ao mattero iso sought.oo ooo Inoaoworldoofosports,otoposeededoplayersonotobeingoableotoostando upochallengeoisonotoanounknownophenomenon.oTheoconsistencyoandofitnesso regimeo iso too beo followedo strictlyo ando thereo cano beo noo overnighto transformation.oHence,operformanceoofopetitioneroino2022ocannotobeotheo soleobasisotoorejectoassessmentoandoevaluationoofo2023owhereotheoprivateo respondentowasoassessedobetter.o oo Ito iso alsoo noto ino disputeo thato theo petitionero aso wello aso theo respondentoparticipatedoinotheoselectionotrialsoofo2023oWorldoChampionshipo underoaoUniversalocriteria.oTheosaidocriteriaohasoalsoobeenoexaminedoandotheo sameoisofoundotoobeomulti-dimensionaloandoexhaustive.oItoisoalsoonototheo caseoofotheopetitionerothatoheohasoanyogrievanceoagainstotheoevaluationoando assessmentocriteriaoandoitohasoalsoonotobeenoarguedothatotheosameowasonoto madeo knowno too them.o Anyo sucho contentiono wouldo eveno otherwiseo beo confrontedowithotheoreportoofo02oindependentoobserversosentobyotheoB.F.I.o Theo grievanceo abouto theo markso awardedo waso onlyo ino respecto ofo weighto management,owhichohasobeenowelloexplainedotoobeonotoaboutotheoweightobuto weighto whileo conductingo CMJo testo foro finalizingo individualo trainingo schedule.oClearly,otheoargumentoaboutotheoweightowasofallaciousoandonoto CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-58-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

basedo ono correcto understandingo ofo theo procedure.o Thereo waso noo othero challenge,oinosoofaroasotheoawardingoofomarksoisoconcerned.oo oo Theo suggestiono thato evaluatorso shouldo assigno reasono foro awardingorespectiveomarksoisonotoonlyoimpracticalobutoalsooimproperoando unfeasible.o Theo worko ofoevaluationoiso complexo ando thereoareo numerouso aspectsothatoweighoinomindoincludingotheopotential.oTheosameoisoleftoalwayso too theo subjectiveo integrityo ando discretiono ofo theo evaluators.o Ito musto beo alwaysokeptoinomindothatotheyoareoeminentosportsopersonsooforeputeoando shouldohaveosuchoevaluatingofreedomotooascertainotrueopotential,owhichomayo notoalwaysobeocapableoofobeingoobjectivised.oAoshackledoevaluationoando assessmentoitselfowouldodissuadeoaopersonoofoeminenceotooagreeotooevaluateo ando beo subjectedo too testo ofo integrityo ando capabilities.o Theo sameo wouldo ratherobeodishonorableoandounworthyoforotheopeopleodoingotheoselectionoando evaluation.oTheoargumentoisothusorejected.o oo oo Thisonowoleadsotoodetermineowhetherothereohasobeenoaochangeo ofocriteriaotootheoprejudiceoandoafterotheoprocessoofoselectionocommenced.oo oo Undisputedly,otheoprivateorespondentowasonotoper-seoeligibleotoo participateo ino theo campo foro worldo championshipo aso pero theo criteriao ofo

06.02.2023.oTheoCodeoofo2011oandotheoprocedureohoweveropermittedoaowildo cardoentryoandotheorespondentowasoshortlistedobyotheomostoeminentosportso personsoinotheocountryounderotheoTOPSoproject.oItowasonoticedothatoinotheo earlieroNationalochampionship,orespondentoNo.6owasorecuperatingofromoao shoulderoinjuryoandohadothusobeenograntedoexemption.oSuchoexemptionohado alsoo beeno availedo byo petitionero himself.o Hence,o heo nevero raisedo anyo CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-59-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

challengeotoopermissionograntedoforoparticipationoinoNationaloCampotheno andohavingoavailedotheobenefit,otheosaidofactowasoconcealedofromothisoCourt.o Stillofurther,otheopetitioneroasowelloasotheoprivateorespondentowereoevaluatedo togethero whereino theo privateo respondento waso shortlistedo foro theo Worldo Championship,o2023oinoaonon-discriminatoryoassessment.oThereowasohenceo noochallengeotootheoteamoselectedoforotheoWorldoChampionshipo2023.oTheo addendumoofo16.03.2023ohadoalreadyobeenoissuedobeforeoshort-listingoofotheo teamoandoitowasotootheoknowledgeoofoalloconcerned.oTheoconcessionofromo selectionotrialowasograntedoonlyotooparticipateoinotheonationalocampoandonoto fromo evaluationo ando assessment.o Theo respondento No.6o defeatedo theo petitionero ino theo competitiono ando selectiono too earno ao bertho foro worldo championship.o Theo saido addendumo ofo 16.03.2023o itselfo prescribedo thato selectionotrialoforoalloOlympicoweightocategoryoshallobeoheldoforoathleteso othero thano thoseo whoo participatedo ino theo Olympico weighto ino theo worldo championship.oThisofactowasohenceobroughtotootheonoticeoofoalloconcernedo muchoinoadvanceoandotheoparticipantsoinoOlympicoweightocategoryoinotheo championship.oo oo Evenootherwise,otheodecisionocannotobeosaidotoobeobadosinceo theoworldochampionshipowasoheldoinoMayo2023owhileolastodateoforosendingo nameso waso 15.07.2023.o Theo trialso foro Nationalo Coachingo Campo begano th thbetweeno 6 -8 o Juneo 2023.o Theo playerso returningo fromo higho intensityo tournamentodefinitelyorequireoaorecoveryotimeotooovercomeotheofatigueoando injuriesosufferedoduringoboxingochampionship.o CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-60-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

oo Theorespondentoasowelloasotheopetitioneroagainounderwentotheo trainingoandoevaluationowhereotheorespondentooutperformedotheopetitionero yetoagain.oHenceotheoexemptionowasoonlyofromotheoselectionotrialoandonoto fromoevaluationoandoassessmentoinotheoCamp,owhereotheopetitionersoalsoo participated,oandoevenotheosaidoexemptionoisostipulatedoinotheoprocedureoando backedo byo logicalo reasoningo rathero thano arbitrarinesso oro whimsicalo discrimination.oOnceotheoprocedureoadoptedoisoprescribedoandostipulatedo andoadoptedoonorationalityoandoobjectivity,oitowouldonotobeoappropriateotoo digoanyofurtheroforoaolooseoend.oSuchoanoactowouldoamountotoofishingoforoao lapseotooundooaoprocess.oTheoirregularity/illegalityowhichowouldoaffectotheo selectionoshouldobeoevidentoratherothanodrawingoaopictureowithoaocolouredo visionoandodistantoinferencesoasoperowhatotheopetitioneroproposes.o o Furthermore,otheoselectionocriteriaoitselfowasoaosubjectomattero ofochallengeoinoaowritopetitionobeforeotheoHon'bleoDelhioHighoCourtoinoWrito Petitiono(Civil)oNo.2860oofo2023,otitledoasoMeenuoVs.oBoxingoFederationo ofoIndiaoandoothers,otheoDelhioHighoCourtodidonotofindoanyounfairness,o unreasonablenessoorolackoofotransparencyoinotheoselectionocriteria.oHavingo failedotooimpugnotheoselectionocriteriaobeforeotheoDelhioHighoCourt,othereoiso nooreasonoasotoowhyothisoCourtoshouldore-visitotheoselectionocriteria,otheo validityoofowhichohasoalreadyobeenoupheldobyotheoDelhioHighoCourtoandonoo illegality,oirrationalityoorounfairnessohasobeenoreflectedooroestablished.oAo mereofailureotoomakeotootheoselectolistocannotopaveowayoforoimpugningotheo evaluationoandotheoassessmentoundertakenobyotheoexpertsobyoaosweepingo remarko thato evaluatorso hado ao partisano approach.o Theo contemporaneouso circumstancesoandodocumentsodoonotosuggestooroestablishoanyounfairnessoino CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-61-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

theoselectionoprocess.oWhileotheoclaimoofotheopetitioneroisoofohavingowonooao medaloatotheoCommonoWealthoGamesoofo2023,otheorespondentohappensotoo beoaomedalistoinotheoworldochampionshipowhereotheoparticipationoisoindeedo amongstotheolargerosegmentoofotheoathletesofromoallooverotheoworld.oo o Theo circumstanceso ofo theo presento caseo alsoo showo thato exemptionofromotrialotooattendoNationaloCampowasograntedoacrossoboardotoo allotheoparticipantsoofotheoworldochampionshipsowithoanoobjectoofoallowingo sufficientotimeotootheoathletes,owhoohadoreturnedoafreshofromotheoworldo championships,otoorecoupotheirofitnessoandotooavoidoanyofatigue/anyofresho injury.oSuchopracticesoareoaowelloacceptedonormoinotheoworldoofosportoando eachoathleteoisorequiredotoobeoprovidedowithosomeotimeofororelaxationobeforeo heohasotooparticipateoinoanotheroevent.oo oo Ino anyo case,o theo selectiono ofo theo teamo too participateo ino theo AsianoGamesowasonotoarbitraryooroisobasedouponotheoperformanceoatotheo worldochampionships.oRatherotheoevaluationohasobeenodoneoafreshobyotheo HighoPerformanceoDirectorsowhereinotheorespondentowasorankedohigheroino theoorderoofomerit.o o Theofieldoofosportsoisoaofieldowhereotheoexpertsoareotheobesto judgeo witho respecto too grit,o determination,o skill,o agility,o reflexes,o mentalo strengtho ando capabilitieso ofo theo sportso persons.o Theo expertso havingo evaluatedotheopetitionersoasowelloasorespondentooveroaotrainingoscheduleoofo nearlyo02oweeks,otheoHighoCourtowouldobeounequippedotoosubstituteotheo evaluationodoneobyotheoeminentosportsopersonsoandosubjectoexpertsoandotoo substituteotheiroevaluationobyoitsoown.oTheosaidofieldoisorequiredotoobeobesto CWP-14491-2023o(O&M).oo ooooo-62-o o 2023:PHHC:143111o

o o Theoadoptionoofotheoprocedure,obeingoinoconformityowithotheo Codeoandobasedoonoobjective,ofairoandotransparentoevaluationobyoaobodyoofo subjectoexperts,owouldolendocredenceotootheoselectolistoofosportsopersons.o Anyochallengeroandoobjectorowouldobeorequiredotooreferotoomoreothanoao mereoallegationoofomaliciousomotive.o o Judicialointerference,oinomattersoofosuchonature,oisolimitedoinoitso scopeo ando applicationo ando iso moreo ofo ao proceduralo reviewo rathero thano substantive.o Theo petitionerso haveo failedo too establisho anyo illegality,o perversityooroimproprietyoinotheoprocedureoofoselectionoorotooestablishothato theo saido procedureo waso contraryo too theo lawo oro violatedo anyo equalityo ofo opportunityotootheoathletesowhooparticipatedoinotheocamps.ooo o Theochallengeoraisedoisoalsoohighlyobelatedoandotheoselectoteamo havingo alreadyo beeno shortlisted,o ito wouldo eveno otherwiseo beo noto ino theo fitnessoofothingsotoocarryooutoanyochangeoinotheoplayingoteamoasoitoshallohaveo aoprejudicialoimpactoonotheoperformanceoofotheoplayersowhoomustoalwaysobeo keptofreeoofouncertaintyobeforeosuchoaomajorosportingoevent.oo Theopresentopetitionsoareoisoaccordinglyodismissed.oooo o Pendingomisc.oapplication(s),oifoany,oinotheopresentobatchoofo writopetitionsoshalloalsoostand(s)odisposedoofoaccordingly.ooo o Ao photocopyo ofo theo ordero beo placedo ono theo fileo ofo eacho connectedocase.oo o Septembero20,o2023o o o oooooooooo(VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)o rajoarorao o o o oooooo o ooooooJUDGEo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oYes/Noo Whetheroreportableoo o :oYes/Noo