Sebastinan George v. Volleyball Federation Of India

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 31.07.2023 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU and WMP Nos.37534 and 37538 of 2018 Sebastian George .. Petitioner -vs1. Volleyball Federation of India, Through its duly Elected President, Room No.72, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Chennai (T.N.) 600 003.

2. Union of India, Through Secretary of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Room No.3, C-Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110001.

3. M/s.Baseline Ventures (India) Pvt. Ltd., Through its Managing Director.

.. Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Declaration to declare the Agreement executed between the 1st respondent and the 3rd respondent dated 21.02.2018 selecting the 3rd respondent as the organizer for the proposed Indian Volleyball League as null and void and consequently direct the 1st respondent to conduct the entire process of selection of the organizer for the proposed volleyball league afresh by issuing a tender after advertising the same and direct the respondent No.2 to appoint a

committee for supervising the entire process of selection of the organizer for the proposed volleyball league by respondent No.1 and to ensure complete transparency and fairness in the selection process. For the Petitioner :

Mr.P.Rajkumar Jhabakh For the Respondents :

Mr.J.Sivanandaraj for R-1 :

Mr.G.Ilangovan for R-2 :

M/s.Inthu Karunakaran for R-3 * * * * *

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble Chief Justice) We have heard Mr.P.Rajkumar Jhabakh, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr.J.Sivanandaraj, learned counsel for the first respondent, Mr.G.Ilangovan, learned counsel for the second respondent and M/s.Inthu Karunakaran, learned counsel for the third respondent.

2. The writ petition is filed for declaration of the agreement dated 21.02.2018 between the first and the third respondents as null and void.

The third respondent in the said agreement was shown as an organiser for the proposed Indian Volleyball League.

3. The learned counsel for the third respondent submits that the first session of the said League is already over. The agreement also does not subsist now. Arbitration proceedings were also taken up and an award was passed by the learned Arbitrator. The first respondent has challenged the Award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

In light of that, nothing would survive for adjudication in the present writ petition. The writ petition, as such, stands disposed of. There will be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

(S.V.G., CJ.) (P.D.A., J.) 31.07.2023 Index : yes/no : Yes/No sra

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND P.D.AUDIKESAVALU, J.

(sra) To:

1. The President, Volleyball Federation of India, Room No.72, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Chennai (T.N.) 600 003.

2. The Secretary of Sports, Union of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Room No.3, C-Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110001.

31.07.2023