IMPORTANT POINT
The court emphasized the necessity for sports associations to maintain proper recognition to ensure participants' rights and benefits are not compromised due to administrative disputes.

JUDGMENT :

1. The above writ petition is filed challenging Ext.P6 and for a consequential direction commanding the 2^nd respondent to countersign Exts.P3 and P4 certificates of the petitioner.

2. The brief facts necessary for disposal of the writ petition are as follows: The petitioner is a professional shooter who has participated in various shooting competition at the District, State and National level. Petitioner had participated in the Palakkad District Shooting Championship held by the Palakkad Rifle Association and was qualified for the State level Championship and Ext.P2 certificate of merits issued by the Palakkad District Rifle Association was counter signed by the observer of District Sports Council.

Thereafter, petitioner also participated in the 53^rd Kerala State Shooting Championship held at Cherthala, Alappuzha during February 2021 conducted by the 3^rd respondent,ie., the Kerala State Rifle Association and the petitioner stood 16^th and 32^nd position, as evident from Ext.P3 certificate. Later, he participated in the South Zone Shooting Championship held at Chennai and secured 11^th position as evident from Ext.P4 certificate issued in this regard. During the time of competitions the 2^nd respondent Sports Council was obliged to send an observer for the competitions and all merit certificates issued by the State Rifle Association and National Rifle Association shall be countersigned by the observer deputed by the 2^nd respondent. The 3^rd respondent Rifle Association had intimated about the event to the sports council and had requested them to send an observer as per Ext.P5 communication dated 24.1.2021. It is to be noted that Ext.P2 certificate was countersigned by the observer under the 2^nd respondent whereas in Exts.P3 and P4, the Sports Council did not countersign. Petitioner has a case that his name has been included in the short list prepared by the Kerala Public Service Commission for selection to the post of Lower Division Clerk, Palakkad District. The petitioner is eligible for grace marks awarded to sports personnel in the selection process conducted by the PSC and the Public Service Commission will accept only those certificates countersigned by the 2^nd respondent sports council. Hence the petitioner approached the 2^nd respondent with a request to countersign Exts.P3 and P4 certificates and the 2^nd respondent informed the petitioner that the Sports Council had withdrawn the recognition of the 3^rd respondent Association and therefore the certificates cannot be countersigned by the 2^nd respondent. Since the 2^nd respondent refused to countersign Exts.P3 and P4 certificates the petitioner submitted a representation before the Sports Council and thereafter, approached this Court by filing WP(C) No.11779/2021 and this Court directed the Sports Council to take a decision on the representation. Accordingly, the application was considered and the request was rejected by Ext.P6 on the ground that the registration of the Kerala Rifle Association was suspended during the said period. Petitioner submits that after issuance of Ext.P6 an application was submitted before the 2^nd respondent as per the provisions of the Right to Information Act seeking to get a copy of the order suspending the Kerala Rifle Association. By Ext.P8 communication petitioner was informed that the Sports Council has not suspended the Kerala Rifle Association and an Ad hoc Committee is in force. In the above facts and circumstances, petitioner would contend that the reason stated for rejecting the request for countersigning of the certificates as per Ext.P6 is without any basis. Petitioner would further submit that in similar situation, the State Amateur Boxing Association faced an issue of a non- recognition by the Sports Council and the sportsperson who participated under its banner were denied attestation, one of the participants approached this Court by filing WP(C) No.16388/2020 and this Court directed the Sports Council to consider the application