Only Indian citizens can be part of national sports teams’
The Madras High Court on Wednesday upheld a circular of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which states that only Indian citizens can be part of national sports teams.
The order was passed by Justice M. Sathya Narayanan on a petition filed by G. Venkatesh, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and a Bridge player and his team mates Padmanabhan Sridharan, Sunderram Srinivasan and Subash Gupta – all part of a team called Texan Aces.
In 2010, Mr. Venkatesh wrote to the Bridge Federation of India, seeking permission to take part in international tournaments. But the president of the federation, in a letter, stated that though he would be entitled to play in national tournaments, he will not be able to represent the country in international championships since he was an OCI.
This was due to the circular issued by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports dated December 26,2008 and March 12, 2009 – only players who are Indian citizens will receive support from the government for representing the country in national teams. In the next circular issued in 2009, the government said only sportspersons with Indian citizenship are entitled to walk under the Indian flag.
According to a petition filed by Sunderram Srinivasan, the Federation also stated that the entire team will be disqualified if Mr. Venkatesh was on the team. Subsequently Mr. Venkatesh approached the Madras High Court and got green signal to take part in team selections for international tournaments.
After this the Federation allowed their team to take part in the selection trials for the Bermuda Bowl Bridge Championships, which is slated to be held in Chennai from September 26 to October 10, 2015. The team won the selection trials in August 2014.
The Federation however withdrew its support and instead sent a letter reiterating that the team cannot represent India in the event as only Indian citizens can do so. “This is because, they won trials with a OCI player. So it cannot be accepted,” said N.R. Kirubakaramoorthy, president, Bridge Federation of India.
According to the petitioner, the Federation also issued a publication stating that selection trials will be conducted again in April 2015. “Subsequently, the three team members filed petitions in the Madras High Court seeking to stop the trials and got a stay order,” Mr. Kirubakaramoorthy said.
On Wednesday, the Judge, after referring to the relevant provision of the Constitution, which relate to citizenship of India and provisions of Indian Citizenship Act, finally ruled that the assumption of foreign citizenships amounts to automatic relinquishment of Indian citizenship and upheld the Ministry’s circular.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday upheld a circular of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which states that only Indian citizens can be part of national sports teams.
The order was passed by Justice M. Sathya Narayanan on a petition filed by G. Venkatesh, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and a Bridge player and his team mates Padmanabhan Sridharan, Sunderram Srinivasan and Subash Gupta – all part of a team called Texan Aces.
In 2010, Mr. Venkatesh wrote to the Bridge Federation of India, seeking permission to take part in international tournaments. But the president of the federation, in a letter, stated that though he would be entitled to play in national tournaments, he will not be able to represent the country in international championships since he was an OCI.
This was due to the circular issued by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports dated December 26,2008 and March 12, 2009 – only players who are Indian citizens will receive support from the government for representing the country in national teams. In the next circular issued in 2009, the government said only sportspersons with Indian citizenship are entitled to walk under the Indian flag.
According to a petition filed by Sunderram Srinivasan, the Federation also stated that the entire team will be disqualified if Mr. Venkatesh was on the team. Subsequently Mr. Venkatesh approached the Madras High Court and got green signal to take part in team selections for international tournaments.
After this the Federation allowed their team to take part in the selection trials for the Bermuda Bowl Bridge Championships, which is slated to be held in Chennai from September 26 to October 10, 2015. The team won the selection trials in August 2014.
The Federation however withdrew its support and instead sent a letter reiterating that the team cannot represent India in the event as only Indian citizens can do so. “This is because, they won trials with a OCI player. So it cannot be accepted,” said N.R. Kirubakaramoorthy, president, Bridge Federation of India.
According to the petitioner, the Federation also issued a publication stating that selection trials will be conducted again in April 2015. “Subsequently, the three team members filed petitions in the Madras High Court seeking to stop the trials and got a stay order,” Mr. Kirubakaramoorthy said.
On Wednesday, the Judge, after referring to the relevant provision of the Constitution, which relate to citizenship of India and provisions of Indian Citizenship Act, finally ruled that the assumption of foreign citizenships amounts to automatic relinquishment of Indian citizenship and upheld the Ministry’s circular.
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