HC stays gymnastics national c’ships

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 18

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the holding of gymnastics national championships after holding that the central and state governments appeared to have no control over federations and associations organising the events.

The directions by Justice Paramjeet Singh Dhaliwal came on a petition by Rishab Singh and another petitioner against the Union of India and other respondents through counsel Girish Agnihotri.

The court was told that the Gymnastics Federation of India issued two circulars for conducting the “55th Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship (Men and Women)” at Kerala on January 8 and at Gurgaon on February 11.

The court was also told that two circulars were circulated mentioning different dates for holding the “28th Sub-Junior National Artistic Gymnastics (Boys and Girls)” and the “Aerobic Gymnastics National Championship” at Allahabad.

Counsel asserted holding sports events under the “same heading at two places by two factions of the federation would create problems for the participants”. Elaborating, he contended the state governments had framed policies for sportspersons on the basis of which seats were reserved in institutions and departments.

The sportspersons participating in championships were, rather, issued certificates as per their performance; and the certificates were graded as per the level of championship — national, state or district. As admissions to educational institutions and employment in departments were granted on the basis of such graded certificates, confusion would prevail.

The gymnast-petitioners would be “in a state of confusion as to which is a valid national championship. As such, two similar events of gymnastics under the same title cannot be permitted”, counsel argued.

Taking up the matter, Justice Dhaliwal asserted: “It appears that two factions in the Gymnastics Federation of India have created such a problem. It also appears that there is no control of the central/state government over such federations/associations”.

Issuing notice of motion for March 30, Justice Dhaliwal asserted: “In the meantime, it is directed that till the issue is finally decided, the federations will not hold any of the gymnastics national championship, including the championships mentioned in the present petition.

The HC has already stayed the 24th Rhythmic Gymnastics National C’ship after holding that two events under the same title could not be permitted.