JUDGMENT :

1. Pursuant to notification No. 02 of 2023 dated 25.05.2023, for admission to Ph.D Programme (Full Time/Part time), issued by the respondent-Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, petitioner applied for admission in the discipline of Civil Engineering (Full Time) under Sports Category. Provisional merit list of Ph.D Programme for academic session 2022-23 for Civil Engineering came to be issued by the respondent-University, in which, petitioner was shown at Serial No. 06 under the category “Sports”. Since one Aijaz Ahmad Wani, figuring at Serial No. 04 of the said provisional merit list, did not join, sports certificates of the petitioner were sent by respondent No. 06 i.e. Assistant Registrar Academics of the respondent-University for verification to the Secretary J&K Sports Council Srinagar-respondent No.2. However, the Administrative Officer of the respondent-Sports Council, vide its communication No. SC/2407/7270-72 dated 09.10.2023, impugned in the present petition, conveyed the respondent-University that petitioner, having single participation at the National level, is not eligible for selection under the Sports Category. Consequently, respondent