Karnataka High Court tells Badminton Association of India to frame guidelines to enable tournaments by other entities

The Karnataka High Court recently directed the Badminton Association of India (BAI) to formulate guidelines for the consideration of applications by other entities to conduct badminton tournaments for registered players or coaches. [Bitsport Private Limited and ors v Union of India and Anr].Justice R Devdas rejected the BAI’s contention that there was no provision to receive applications from other entities or to sanction such tournaments.The Court noted that regulations of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) provided guidelines for the consideration of such applications. “This Court is also of the considered opinion that the respondent- BAI is required to formulate guidelines for acceptance of application and sanctioning of tournaments, in consultation with the apex governing body viz., Badminton World Federation,” it concluded..The Court was hearing a matter related to the right of sportspersons to participate in a tournament conducted by an entity that is not recognized by the BWF at the global level.It had earlier stayed the circulars issued by the BAI warning badminton players, coaches and technical staff registered with it against participating in 'unrecognized' tournaments. However, the order was set aside by the Supreme Court in August..While deciding the matter afresh, the Court found that the BWF regulations do not cast a blanket restriction on the consideration of tournaments by other entities. “The very fact that provision is made for receiving applications, albeit through the member Association, it would very clearly show that a window is kept open for interested members/other entities to seek permission/sanction to conduct tournaments enlisting participation of the registered Players/Coaches/Technical Staff,” the Court said..Observing that the BWF regulations were carefully worded to enable the participation of the top-ranked players in BWF-conducted and sanctioned tournaments, the Court said that other players cannot be prevented from participating in tournaments other than the ones recognised and organized by the BWF or its member Associations.“That is the reason why provision is made in the regulations of the BWF for making applications and seeking sanction for tournaments,” the Court said.Thus, the Court directed the BAI to formulate guidelines in this regard in consultation with the BWF. It also suggested a provision in the guidelines to allow unseeded players such tournaments.The guidelines must be formulated and published as expeditiously as possible and at any rate, within six months, the Court ordered..Senior Advocate Udaya Holla, and Srinivasan Raghavan with Advocates Lomesh Kiran, Twinkle J Chadwa, Rachita Shah and L Srinivas represented the petitioners, which included the promoter of the 'Grand Prix Badminton League' and a coach. Advocate Unnikrishnan M and M Pradeep represented the Union of India.Senior Advocates Prof Ravivarma Kumar and Vivek Subba Reddy with Advocates KN Subba Reddy and HV Manjunath represented the Badminton Association of India..[Read Judgment]