Delhi HC Puts Stay On Table Tennis Federation Rules In Manika Batra Case

Manika Batra Case: The Delhi High Court on Thursday put a stay on Table Tennis Federation of India's rule that makes it compulsory for players to attend a national camp for selection in international events. Paddler Manika Batra had had submitted a plea against the federation for not allowing her to take part in Asian Championship squad.

As per reports, the Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma who represented the central government told the High Court that only merit is the criteria of candidates and it does not matter if the player attends or does not attend a camp. Sharma said that it "will not deter India from sending its best athletes forward."

During hearing on paddler Manika Batra's plea, Addl. Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing Centre, told Delhi HC that "merit has to be sole criteria for selection of candidates" & attending/not attending a camp will not deter India from sending its best athletes forward

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2021

Earlier on Monday during a hearing of the case, the court had asked for Centre's stand on the petition filed by Manika Batra, she was left out of the Indian team for the Asian Table Tennis Championships. The Table Tennis Federation of India's (TRFI) rules state that it is compulsory to attend the National Coaching Camp in order to be selected.

Justice Rekha Palli had given two days to the Centre to respond. The petition had also alleged that the national coach Soumyadeep Roy pressurised Manika Batra to throw away a match so that his personal trainee could qualify for the Olympics 2020.

The judge had called the allegations serious. "There is something to be said. We have a high ranking player. We have to balance… If there are such senior allegations against the coach, Union of India has to be a little bit proactive on this."

“Let them (Centre) come back with instructions. Ultimately she (Manika Batra) is the highest-ranking player in the country today,” the judge added.

The legal representative of Batra, Sachin Dutta argued in court that Batra's chance for the 25th ITTF Asian Table Tennis Championships 2021 in Doha are scuttled even though she fulfills all the merit criteria. Acting on the plea, the court stayed the federation's rule on Thursday, this will enable Batra to participate in the event scheduled for November.

In the petition, Batra had said, "There is an event in November. This regulation be stayed immediately. It will kill my career.” The athlete had also alleged that the federation is carrying out the selection process in a non-transparent manner and is targeting players such as her.

Batra alleged that the national coach was violating the rules by running a private table tennis academy. After informing about this to the TTFI, they came out with rules that said that she won't be able to participate in the Asian Games of she does not attend the national camp, the plea added.