Supreme Court rejects PIL seeking better sports facilities

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 7

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a PIL seeking directions to the government for advancement of facilities for athletics, including the latest training infrastructure and fund, saying there has to be individual drive.

A Bench led by Justice UU Lalit said it was aware of the issues, but couldn’t issue directions to the government.

Petitioner advocate Vishal Tiwari withdrew the PIL which had also sought to declare hockey as the national game. “If we can have a national animal, why shouldn’t we have a national game,” Tiwari said, adding hockey had not been officially declared as India’s national game contrary to common perception.

“Sorry sir. We won’t be able to do anything. You may withdraw or we’ll dismiss the petition,” it said, forcing Tiwari to withdraw the petition.

“Are you into sports? There has to be individual drive in men or women. There are people like Mirabai Chanu, Mary Kom who have risen above adversities and yet shined like anything. This cannot be done under the diktat of the court. We won’t be able to do anything,” the Bench said.

It refused to grant liberty to the petitioner to make representation before appropriate authorities and said there was no individual cause or dispute.

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