Disposed

Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation (Dbi and Tsf), through by Its Secretary General v. Union of India (Uoi) and Ors.

Delhi HC10 Mar 2026CONT.CAS(C)/242/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Contempt petition alleging non-compliance of directions to pursue inclusion of Dragon Boat Racing in a Khelo India Water Sports Festival. The Union explained that Jammu & Kashmir UT did not acquiesce to inclusion. Finding no wilful disobedience, the court declined orders and disposed of the petition with liberty to pursue remedies.

What the court decided

AI extract

Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation… — Writ and Judicial Review | Delhi HC (2026)

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$~10

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- CONT.CAS(C) 242/2026 DRAGON BOAT INDIA AND TRADITIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION (DBI AND TSF), THROUGH BY ITS SECRETARY GENERAL .....Petitioner

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Through: Mr. Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi, Mr. Firose, Ms. Chetna Mishra and Mr. John Mathai, Advs. (through v/c)

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versus

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UNION OF INDIA (UOI) AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Udit Dedhiya, SPC, Ms. Apurva Sachdev, Mr. Preyansh Gupta, Advs. and Mr. Kalyan Babu, GP for R-1 and 2.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA O R D E R % 10.03.2026

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The present petition alleges wilful disobedience/ non-compliance of the directions contained in the order dated 12.08.2025. The operative directions therein are as under:

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“ 17. Considering that the petitioner’s previous attempts to secure the inclusion of Dragon Boat Racing as a competitive sport have failed only on account of logistical/time constraints, and in view of the aforesaid circumstances, the following directions are issued:

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i. The respondent no.1 is directed to pursue the matter with the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (host of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, scheduled to be held from 21.08.2025 to 23.08.2025 at Dal Lake, Srinagar) for the inclusion of Dragon Boat Racing as a competitive sport in the said upcoming event. The same shall be subject to the petitioner providing complete logistical and technical support, including the provision of dragon boats, trained technical officials, selection camps, and all the requisite infrastructure, without causing any difficulty or inconvenience to the hosting State. The same shall also, necessarily, be subject to the approval/acquiescence of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

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………………………… ”

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 16/03/2026 at 17:12:56

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The petitioner is aggrieved by the fact that the Dragon Boat Racing was not included as a competitive sport in the Khelo India Games held in Srinagar from 21.08.2025 to 23.08.2025. Mr. Udit Dedhiya, learned counsel for the respondent no.1, who appears on advance notice, submits that the aforesaid was on account of the fact that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir did not acquiesce / accede to the request made by the respondent no.1 in this regard.

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In these circumstances, it cannot be said that there has been any wilful disobedience by the respondents of the order dated 12.08.2025.

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As such, no orders are required to be passed in the present petition. However, in case the petitioner seeks to agitate its grievance qua any future events, it shall be at liberty to pursue the matter with the respondent no.1 and/or take appropriate legal remedies, in accordance with law.

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The petition is disposed of in the above terms.

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SACHIN DATTA, J

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MARCH 10, 2026/ cl

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 16/03/2026 at 17:12:56

Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation (Dbi and Tsf), through by Its Secretary General v. Union of India (Uoi) and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation (Dbi and Tsf), through by Its Secretary General v. Union of India (Uoi) and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

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