Sakthi Mahesh v. State Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 22-04-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI & WMP Nos. 14871 & 14872 of 2026 Sakthi Mahesh S/o.Mahesh, residing at No.79 B, Pookollai Road Sixth Nambar Vaikkal, Mannargudi, Tiruvarur-614 001.
..Petitioner Vs
1. State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary, The Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai -600 009.
2. Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its authorised officer, Member secretary, Raja Muthiah Road, Periyamet, Chennai-600 003
3. Tamil Nadu Football Association, Rep. by its Administrative Committee 73 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Parktown, Chennai-600 003
4. All India Football federation, Rep. by its President, Football house, Sector 19, Phase 1, Dwarka, New Delhi-110 075 ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the 3rd respondent to immediately conduct selection trials for selecting players and send the team to represent State of Tamil Nadu in Swami Vivekananda U20 Mens NFC (National Football
Championship), 2026 tentatively to be held at Narainpur, Chhattisgarh from 20.04.2026 onwards.
For Petitioner :
Mr.Mahesh Kumar.S For Respondents:
Mr.T.M. Rajangam, Govt. Advocate for R1 Ms.N.S.Tanvi for R2 Ms.Kanimozhi Mathi for R3 .........
ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed for issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the 3rd respondent to immediately conduct selection trials for selecting players and send the team to represent State of Tamil Nadu in Swami Vivekananda U20 Mens NFC (National Football Championship), 2026 tentatively to be held at Narainpur, Chhattisgarh from 20.04.2026 onwards.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a foot ball player who plays for a club duly affiliated under Chennai Football Association. Earlier a Writ was filed in relation to sending the Football Team to represent Tamil Nadu in Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's ( National Foot Ball Championship), 2026. The 4th respondent had on 21.3.2026 announced about Swamy Vivekananda Youth 20 Men's National Foot Ball Championship which is stated to be commenced at Narainpur, Chattisgarh on 20.04.2026.
The said Tournament serves a crucial platform for young foot ballers to showcase their talents at a National Level and if young players loses to play that tournament this year, they may not be getting this opportunity again as they were become age barred. The 3rd respondent Administrative Committee took charge for more than 2 1/2 years to send the Tamil Nadu Team to participate for Sub Junior boys and Girls junior, boys and girls under 20, men and senior men and women to send teams to represent the State of Tamilnadu in the National Tournament. Despite the above information being received by the 3rd respondent/Administrative Committee, they remained inactive and no steps have been taken to conduct the selection to identify the competent and qualified players from the State of Tamil Nadu to represent the above National Tournament. The 3rd respondent who is responsible for conducting selection trial for the Tamil Nadu Foot Ball Team in the said Championship did not commence the selection process till date due to lack of financial support, thereby, the present writ petition is filed.
3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that even the 3rd respondent sent several letters to the Secretary of the 4th respondent Federation regarding the disbursement of the annual financial support for the financial years 2023-2024, 2024 to 2025. The 4th respondent is duty bound to give 20 lakhs for each financial year to every State Association to carry out the activities for development of sports. Unfortunately, the 4th respondent has
not disbursed the above grant for the last two financial years which pushed the 3rd respondent to face the above financial crisis, thereby, the writ petition is filed.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that admittedly, the National Tournament is scheduled to start from 20.04.2026, but till now, the selection process has not been conducted by the 4th respondent . Unless selection process is conducted and appropriate team is selected, the petitioner who is a footballer cannot participate in the National event. Therefore, a direction to the 3rd respondent to conduct selection trials immediately and send the team to represent State of Tamil Nadu is just and necessary.
5. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the 4th respondent Federation would submit that the Writ Petition is not maintainable as against the 4th respondent as the 4th respondent is not a State and the petitioner cannot claim, as a matter of right for conducting selection process. The selection process depends upon the financial support granted by the Sports Authority of India/R2 to the 4th respondent and in the present case, till date, the 4th respondent did not grant financial support to the 2nd respondent and in the absence of financial support from the 2nd respondent, the 3rd respondent is not in a position to conduct any selection process. Accordingly, she prayed for
appropriate orders.
6. Learned counsel appearing for the 2nd respondent would submit that the prayer sought for in the writ petition cannot be maintainable since the issue is purely in between the petitioner/member and the 3rd respondent which has to be adjudicated only before the competent Civil Court in the appropriate manner.
7. The respondents have assailed the writ petition stating that it is not maintainable. As neither the 3rd respondent, nor the 4th respondent who fall within the ambit of State so as to issue a Writ against them. The petitioner wants the 3rd respondent to conduct selection process, for which, the 3rd respondent is not able to do as it is not financially sound and that the 4th respondent has not given any financial aid to the 3rd respondent to conduct the selection process. In fact, the 4th respondent submits that without any financial aid being granted by the Sports Authority of India, it is not in a position to provide financial assistance to the 3rd respondent. The 4th respondent alone is the authority to disburse financial aid and when the 3rd and 4th respondents did not come within the ambit of State, this Court cannot issue any prerogative writ against the said respondents to conduct any selection process as the respondents 3 and 4 are fall outside the Writ jurisdiction of this Court. Therefore, no affirmative direction, as sought for by the petitioner for conduct of selection
process can be granted by this Court.
8. The issue of the petitioner relates to non conduct of selection trials which could not be done due to non availability of funds. Even the petitioner cannot seek an enforcement of direction on the 3rd respondent to conduct the selection trial, moreso, due to non availability of fund and that the 3rd respondent falls outside the extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court. Further, as rightly contended by the learned counsel for the 2nd respondent, the dispute is with regard to non conduct of selection trials is between the petitioner and the 3rd respondent and the same has to be adjudicated only before the competent civil court. If at all, the petitioner has any grievance against the 3rd respondent relating to non conduct of selection trials, he has to work out the remedy against the 3rd respondent in accordance with law and no direction in the nature of Writ can be granted. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 22-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order MSR
To 1.
The Secretary, The Youth Welfare and Sports Development State of Tamil Nadu Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Cehnnai-600 009.
2. Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Authorized officer, Member secretary, Raja Muthiah Road, Periyamet, Chennai-600 003
3. Tamil Nadu Football Association, Rep. by its Administrative Committee 73 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Parktown, Chennai-600 003
4. All India Football federation, Rep. by its President, Football house, Sector 19, Phase 1, Dwarka, New Delhi-110 075
M.DHANDAPANI J.
msr & WMP NO. 14871 OF 2026, WMP NO. 14872 OF 2026 22-04-2026