NOUFAL M.J. Vs. THE ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The prayers in the writ petition are for directions to the respondents to include the petitioner in the team for the M.G.University Inter Collegiate Hockey Tournament 2017-18 to be held from 14.12.2017 to 15.2.2017 and 31.1.2018 to 1.2.2018. It is submitted that the petitioner is a person, who had been granted admission in the sports quota and had been participating in their respective chosen sports in the University team during the past years. The petitioner contends that by Ext.P3 revised eligibility rules prescribed by the 1st respondent dated 28.7.2017, revisions were made with regard to the age of the participants in the inter-university competitions. It is contended that the age limit had been fixed as 17 to 25 years for participation in the national University Games 2017-18.

(2.) The petitioner contends that he is a 1st Year student and he is aged 25. He contends that by the reduction of the age of participation in the midst of the academic year, he is disabled from participating in the inter-university games.

(3.) The learned Assistant Solicitor General of India appearing for the 1st respondent has contended that the revised eligibility criteria have been prescribed on the basis of meeting of the International Universities Sports Federation (FISU) and the said prescription had been informed to all Universities in the country in 2016 itself. It is contended that if persons who are not eligible in accordance with Ext.P3 are included in the University teams, the teams themselves will not be eligible to participate in the games.