ANJU AROWN ROSS Vs. KERALA STATE SPORTS COUNCIL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ appeal is filed by the petitioners in WP (C) No. 15515 of 2012. The learned Single Judge has dismissed the writ petition holding that the appellants are not entitled to the awards declared by the respondents to the sportsmen as covered by Ext. P3 and Exts. R1(a) and R1(b). The learned Single Judge, after evaluating the contentions raised in the Writ Petition and the counter - affidavit filed by the 1st respondent, came to the conclusion that the awards are granted to winners of Asian Games / Common Wealth Games / Olympics / Official World Championship / SAF Games / National Games / Sub Junior International Championship / Junior International Championships / Special Awards to junior, senior and sub junior for National Championships and they are only entitled to get cash awards while securing first, second and third places in the events referred above. The learned Single Judge has also taken note of the fact that the appellants have participated in Common Wealth Power Lifting Championship, which is one conducted by the Power Lifting Federation of India for the said discipline only. The learned Single Judge has taken note of Ext. R1(b) scheme providing for special awards, wherein, the events like the one participated by the appellants are not specified as an eligible category. In that background, it was held by the learned Single Judge that the claim raised by the appellants that they are eligible for cash awards cannot be sustained and accordingly, the writ petition was dismissed.

(2.) The petitioners have filed the writ appeal, contending that while they were in Class - XI and B.Com. II Year, respectively, in St. Joseph Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Calicut and Guruvayurappan College, Calicut, have participated in the Common Wealth Power Lifting Championship, 2009 and they were sponsored by the Indian Power Lifting Federation constituted by the State Units. In pursuance of the direction issued by the Power Lifting Federation, each of the appellants had to contribute Rs.45,000/- as participation fee in the Common Wealth Power Lifting Championship, 2009 held at Pune.

(3.) Pursuant to the contribution made, the appellants have participated in the said event and have secured first place in the 48 Kg. weight class of Sub Junior and 75 Kg. weight class of Sub Junior, respectively, which are evidenced by Exts. P1 and P2 certificates issued by the Common Wealth Power Lifting Federation. The grievance that was voiced in the writ petition was on the basis of Ext. P4 news item appeared in a newspaper dated 27/06/2012, by which it was declared that the then Chief Minister will distribute cash awards to eligible sports persons and accordingly, though they were also eligible to receive the cash award, they were not considered by the respondents.