R KAARUPPAN Vs. BALJIT SINGH SETHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) R. Kaaruppan, petitioner in this Writ Petition, seeks to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents, Secretary General and Vice-President, The National Rifle Association of India to accept his entry for the trap and skeet events at the National clay pigeon shooting championship commencing from 10th December, 2003.

(2.) The case of the petitioner as set out in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition is briefly stated hereunder: The petitioner had not only qualified to take part in the National Clay Target Shooting Championship last year, but only reached the 9th National rank and rose even further up to the 6th rank at the National level in the trap shooting event. As far as skeet event is concerned, he had qualified despite not having been permitted to participate in the event for more than six years in 2002. By shooting a score of 89/125 in an intensely competed match and rose to the rank 9; hence he was entitled to participate in both the events. The respondents as usual did not intimate him about the fixtures. Immediately on coming to know about the event, on 28-11-2002 he sent his entries for all the three events. When he contacted the State Shooting Federation to forward his entries, he was informed that he should forward it directly to the National Rifle Association. He sent the same to the respondent by Courier along with a letter dated 28th December, 2003. Though the respondents had been receiving entries directly and they did so in the year 1998, thereafter they refused to accept his request. When the entry had been sent to the respondents, it is not open to them to deny him to participate in the events. Only in his case the respondents are raising objections; hence the present writ petition for appropriate direction.

(3.) Heard the petitioner appearing in person and Mr. P.S. Raman, who was taking notice on behalf of the respondents.