PARUL GUPTA Vs. UOI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners before this Court are differently abled persons, seeking to participate in 22nd Deaflympics to be held at Sofia, Bulgaria starting on 26.07.2013. Pursuant to the entries invited by All India Sports Council of Deaf, the petitioners participated in the process for selection of teams/participants, who were to take part in Deaflympics, 2013. In the said selection process, petitioner No.1 ranked 4 th in Women (Single) and Women (Double), whereas petitioner No. 2 ranked 4th in Men's (Single). Though the registration for participation in Deaflympics, 2013 was obtained for up to four players in each category, ultimately only two persons from each category were selected to participate in the said event.

(2.) THE grievance of the petitioners is that though on account of registration for up to four participants in each event, it was possible to send them to participate in Deaflympics, 2013, the respondents on account of shortage of funds, decided to send only two players in each category. The petitioners are accordingly seeking direction to the respondents to consider including them in the contingent being sent to Deaflympics, 2013 being held at Sofia, Bulgaria.

(3.) IN its counter-affidavit, respondent No. 2-Sports Authority of India has stated that they have selected only two players each in every stream, i.e., badminton, table tennis and lawn tennis separately amongst men and women and, therefore, the process of selection or the decision taken by them to send two players in each category cannot be said to be arbitrary. It is further stated in the counter-affidavit of respondent No. 2 that the final list of the participants has already been sent on 30.6.2013.