Dragon Boat India And Traditional Sports Federation v. Union Of India
$~86 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 5192/2025 DRAGON BOAT INDIA AND TRADITIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Ajeesh K. Gopi, Mr. Jannath Binth, Mr. Nishad and Mr. Vineeth, Advocates.
versus UNION OF INDIA .....Respondent Through:
Mr. Dushyant Pratap Singh, GP for UoI.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA % 23.04.2025
O R D E R
1.
The petitioner in the present petition is aggrieved by a circular dated 31.01.2025 issued by the Department of Sports (SP-IV Section), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, whereby, the 'Revision of scheme of Cash Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches' excluded Dragon Boat Race as a 'discipline' and instead listed the said sport as an event under the Kayaking and Canoeing discipline. 2.
The petitioner is stated to be a body representing and promoting sport of Dragon Boat Racing in India and holds affiliation with International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) and Asian Dragon Boat Federation (ADBF).
3.
It is the case of the petitioner that the circular dated 31.01.2025 has arbitrarily classified the Dragon Boat Racing under the Kayaking and Canoeing discipline and the aforesaid classification is untenable, unsustainable and devoid of jurisdictional legitimacy since the Dragon Boat 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 30/04/2025 at 15:51:48
Racing is governed by a separate international federation (IDBF) which is distinct from the federation which governs Kayaking and Canoeing (International Canoe Federation). It is further stated that the Dragon Boat Race was accorded a separate recognition by various international bodies/councils including the Olympic Council of Asia and Asian Games Sports Competition (since 2010).
4.
It is noticed that against the impugned circular, a representation was submitted on 08.02.2025 to the Under Secretary, Ministry of Youth of Affairs and Sport, Government of India by the petitioner. However, the said representation has not been responded to till date. 5.
After some hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner confines himself to seeking that the representation of the petitioner dated 08.02.2025 be duly considered and decided expeditiously by the concerned Ministry. 6.
Learned counsel for the Union of India fairly accedes to the same. 7.
Accordingly, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India to decide the representation of the petitioner dated 08.02.2025 (filed as Annexure-P4 to the present petition) as expeditiously as possible. If necessary, an opportunity of hearing be afforded to the concerned representative of the petitioner for the purpose of deciding the said representation. Let the representation be disposed of by way of a reasoned order. 8.
The present petition stands disposed of in the above terms. SACHIN DATTA, J APRIL 23, 2025/at 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 30/04/2025 at 15:51:48