S.Srimathy v. Union Of India
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 19.11.2025
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI and W.M.P. Nos.5534, 5535, 5537, 5538, 5539 and 5540 of 2024 S.Srimathy ... Petitioner in W.P.
No.5034 of 2024 A.Monisha ... Petitioner in W.P.
No.5037 of 2024 vs.
1. Union of India Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs (MYAS), Room No.560, A Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001.
2.Sports Authority of India (SAI) Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex (East Gate), Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003.
3.Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) Taekwondo Training Hall, Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Stadium, Basaveshwara Nagar, Bengaluru-560 079.
4.Pondicherry Taekwondo Sports Association No.66, Shop No.8, 1st Floor, CPI Complex, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004.
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5.Tamil Nadu Taekwondo Association, No.9, Dr.Ranga Road, Mylapore, Chennai.
(R5-Suo Motu impleaded as per order dated 27.02.2024 in W.P. No.5034 of Respondents in both W.P.s Prayer in W.P. No.5034 of 2024: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the 4th respondent in its rejection letter dated 24.02.2024 and quash the same and consequently direct the 4th respondent to permit the petitioner to participate in the 1st Khelo India Womens Taekwondo league, to be held at Puducherry between 27th February and 1st March 2024. Prayer in W.P. No.5037 of 2024: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the 4th respondent in its rejection letter dated 24.02.2024 and quash the same and consequently direct the 4th respondent to permit the petitioner to participate in the 1st Khelo India Womens Taekwondo league, to be held at Puducherry between 27th February and 1st March 2024. In both W.P.s:
For petitioner : Mr.J. Amriha Sarayoo for M/s.TVJ Associates For respondents : Mr. M. Ramamoorthy for R1 and R2 Mr.Saurab Jain for M/s.Akhil Akbar Ali for R3 2/6
COMMON ORDER The petitioners are gold and silver medalists in Taekwondo at the State and National levels. The Government of India had inaugurated the Khelo India programme during January 2024. While certain Khelo India events were conducted by the Tamil Nadu Government during January 2024, Taekwondo was not included therein.
2. It is the grievance of the petitioners that during the second week of February 2024, they came to know that the Taekwondo Federation of India was organizing the 1st Khelo India Women Taekwondo League at Puducherry, promoted by the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. However, the petitioners were not permitted to participate in the said event, vide impugned rejection letter dated 24.02.2024 issued by the 4th respondent, as the respondents insisted that participation should be routed only through online mode or through the concerned association, thereby depriving the petitioners of an opportunity to compete. Aggrieved by the said rejection letter, these writ petitions came to be filed.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that during the pendency of these writ petitions, the said event has already concluded and therefore no effective relief survives for adjudication in the present writ petitions. 3/6
4. Recording the fair submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, these writ petitions are closed. However, liberty is granted to the petitioners to work out their remedy in accordance with law and to approach the appropriate authorities for framing of fair and transparent rules and guidelines, so as to enable eligible and deserving sports persons to participate in such events in future without discrimination. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
19.11.2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order vsi2 To
1. Union of India Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs (MYAS), Room No.560, A Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001.
2.Sports Authority of India (SAI) Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex (East Gate), Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003.
3.Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) Taekwondo Training Hall, Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Stadium, Basaveshwara Nagar, Bengaluru-560 079.
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4.Pondicherry Taekwondo Sports Association No.66, Shop No.8, 1st Floor, CPI Complex, Mudaliarpet, Puducherry-605 004.
5.Tamil Nadu Taekwondo Association, No.9, Dr.Ranga Road, Mylapore, Chennai.
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M.DHANDAPANI, J.
vsi2 and W.M.P. Nos.5534, 5535, 5537, 5538, 5539 and 5540 of 2024 19.11.2025 6/6