Basketball Federation of India Directed to Issue Provisional Certificates of Participation to Players

In an order dated August 4, 2023, the Delhi High Court in Kaina Gupta & Anr. v. University of Delhi & Ors. [WP(C) 9959/2023] directed respondent no.3, the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to issue provisional certificates of participation to the petitioners for taking part in the 72^nd Junior National Basketball Championship First Phase for Boys and Girls.

The said championship was conducted under the aegis of the BFI, but the federation failed to issue certificates of participation on the ground that the old body of the federation had not handed over the certificates pending to be issued to the players who participated in national and state events conducted last year, along with the corresponding records, to the current governing body of the BFI. Further, the federation is said to have taken several steps to secure the official records, including the filing of police complaints.

However, this situation has caused considerable distress to players who need the certificates to secure admissions. In the present case, both petitioners sought admission under the sports quota at the University of Delhi, respondent no.1 herein, for the Academic Year 2023-24. The said University maintained that the petitioners’ candidature could not be considered without a certificate of participation issued by the BFI.

After hearing the parties, the Court directed the BFI to issue provisional certificates to the petitioners within 2 working days, on the basis of the certificate issued by the Delhi Basketball Association (DBA). The Court further ordered that the said provisional certificates must be treated by the University of Delhi as valid certificates for considering the petitioners’ candidature against the sports quota.

On August 17, the Court confirmed that the said interim order would remain in force till the next date of hearing, i.e., March 6, 2024.