Badminton Master Players Welfare Association and Ors. Vs Union of India and Ors.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) (respondent no.2), issued a circular dated 31.01.2024 (Annexure P-3), taking disciplinary action against players/officials registered with the BAI, for their participation in an unrecognized tournament, and consequently, the BAI IDs of such players, were ordered to be blocked till further orders, and for future purposes as well, it was stated that, if any such player,

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whose participation is found in such unrecognized tournament, their BAI IDs will also be blocked.

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The petitioners, are one of the such players, who participated in the unrecognized tournament(s), therefore, their respective BAI IDs were blocked, resultantly, they are now unable to participate in any tournament held by BAI, the same has caused grievance to the present petitioners, and propelled them to file the instant petition under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India, seeking quashing of the circular ( supra ), by invoking the writ of certiorari, with a further prayer to issue a direction upon respondent no.2 (BAI), to unblock the petitioners' BAI IDs, so that they could have participated in the tournaments organised by BAI,, which at that point of time were to be organised by respondent no.3 (BAI), in Panchkula, from dated 16.03.2024 to 23.03.2024.

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Upon notice, respondents caused appearance, and the contesting respondent no.2 (BAI), has filed its response to the instant petition.

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During the pendency of the instant petition, vide order dated 13.03.2024, the registration BAI IDs of the petitioners were ordered to be unblock, on a provisionally basis, subject to the petitioners depositing a sum of Rs.1,000/- with respondent no.2 (BAI), till the final outcome of the present petition. The relevant extract of the said order, reads as under:-

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“Learned counsel for respondent No.2- Badminton Association of India contends that the petitioners have committed a

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default by participating in an un-authorized tournament(s) and that as per the provisions contained in the bye-laws of the Association, they are liable to undergo punishment. He further contends that the Registration IDs of the petitioners shall be activated provisionally and subject to the petitioner depositing a sum of Rs.1000/- with respondent No.2-Association, till the final outcome of the present petition.

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Learned counsel for the petitioners undertakes to deposit the above said amount of Rs.1000/- with the respondent No.2-Association for provisional activation of the Registration IDs of the petitioners, without prejudice to their rights and final outcome of the present petition, to enable them to participate in the future tournaments.”

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It is informed to this Court by learned counsel for the petitioners that in compliance to the order ( supra ), the petitioners have deposited the amount of Rs.1,000/- on account of activation charges of their respective BAI IDs, and the same were provisionally activated.

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He further submits that the petitioners does not wish to contest the instant petition on merits, as they have already suffered to a great extent, on account of their BAI IDs being blocked, and being deprived of, to participate in the said tournaments, as organised by BAI, at that point of time.

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He in addition submits that the petitioners are willing to submit an undertaking before respondent no.2 (BAI), to the effect that, in future, they will abide by the guidelines/rules as framed by respondent no.2, and will not participate in any unrecognised tournament/events, in case, their provisional registration BAI IDs are confirmed.

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Learned counsel for respondent no.2 (BAI), though vociferously opposed they prayer, as made by learned counsel for the petitioners, however, considering that the petitioners have suffered on account of blocking of their registration BAI IDs, as well as the supervening events, he submits that in case the petitioners furnish an undertaking to the effect that in future they will not violate any guidelines/rules of BAI, and will not participate in any such unrecognized tournament, their provisional registered BAI IDs will be regularised.

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He over and above submits that the aforesaid concession/relaxation has only been given considering the facts and circumstances of the instant matter, and same shall not be considered as a precedent in future.

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This Court has considered the rival submissions, as made by learned counsel for the parties concerned, and perused the entire case file and it deems apt, at this stage, to dispose of the instant writ petition, with the following directions:-

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i) that the petitioners shall, forthwith, furnish

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an undertaking to the effect that they will abide by the rules/guidelines, framed/issued by BAI (respondent no.2), from time to time, and will not, without the prior permission of BAI, participate in any unrecognized tournament(s);

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ii) in case, the petitioners furnish such undertaking with BAI (respondent no.2), within 15 days

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from the date of passing of this order, the latter concerned, shall within a period of 15 days thereafter, regularise/re-activate their provisional registration BAI IDs;

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iii) the aforesaid concession is being given to the present petitioners by respondent no.2 (BAI), keeping in view the peculiar facts and circumstances of the instant case only, which shall not be considered as a precedent for any other player(s).

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The instant petition is, disposed of accordingly.

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(KULDEEP TIWARI) May 13, 2025 JUDGE dharamvir Whether speaking/reasoned. : Yes/No Whether Reportable. : Yes/No

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Badminton Master Players Welfare Association and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors.

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Badminton Master Players Welfare Association and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors.

Case brief

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