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1999 Supreme(All) 1461

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
O. P. Garg, J.
AMIT CHAUDHARY - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH - Respondents
C. M. W. P. 36323 Of 1999
Decided On : 09/21/1999

Advocates Appeared:
Dharmendra Singhal, K.M.TRIPATHI, RAHUL SRIPAT

Body building is a species of gymnastics and hence a sport/game.

Headnote:

BODY BUILDING - SPORTS/GAMES - G. O. NO. 01/6-PU-10-98 DATED 2. 1. 1999 - INTERPRETATION - BODY BUILDING IS A SPECIES OF GYMNASTICS AND HENCE A SPORT/GAME - PETITIONER, A BODY BUILDER, IS ENTITLED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR INTERVIEW/TRIAL/SELECTION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE POST OF SUB-INSPECTOR IN CIVIL POLICE/PLATOON COMMANDER IN P. A. C. IN THE SPORTS QUOTA.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, a bodybuilder of national repute, applied for the post of Sub-Inspector in Civil Police/Platoon Commander in P. A. C. under a Government Order (G. O.) that reserved 2% of vacancies for sportspersons. However, his application was rejected on the ground that body building was not considered a sport. The petitioner challenged this decision in court.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that body building is a species of gymnastics and hence a sport/game. The court relied on various definitions of sports, games, and gymnastics, as well as the fact that body building is recognized as a sport by the Indian Olympic Association and the All India Police Sports and Control Board.

Issues: Whether body building is a sport/game.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that body building is a sport/game based on the following reasoning: * The definition of sports includes activities that involve physical exertion and competition. * Gymnastics is a sport that involves physical exercise, including systematic and rhythmic exercises, and performances on rings, bars, and other apparatus to promote strength, suppleness, agility, coordination, and body control. * Body building is an activity that involves practice of strengthening the body, especially shaping and enlarging the muscles by exercise. * Body building and weightlifting are inextricably interwoven and as species of Gymnastics and discipline have been universally recognized as game/sport.

Final Decision: The court allowed the petition and directed the respondents to consider the candidature of the petitioner for interview/trial/selection for appointment to the post of Sub-Inspector in Civil Police/Platoon Commander in P. A. C. in the sports quota.

O. P. GARG, J.


( 1 ) THE neat question which arises for consideration and determination in the present writ petition is whether Body Building is one of the species of the generic expression gymnastics, which undoubtedly is recognized as sports/ games. This controversy has travelled upto this Court in the following circumstances : the State Government had taken a policy decision by issuing a Government Order No. 01/6-PU-10-98 dated 2. 1. 1999, a copy of which is Annexure-2 to the writ petition and C. A. 2 to the counter-affidavit, whereby 2 per cent of the vacancies in the recruitment year for the post of sub-Inspector in Civil Police/platoon Commander in P. A. C. . were to be filled by direct recruitment who have excelled in the field of sports. Pursuant to this G. O. an advertisement, annexure-1, was made inviting applications from sportsmen of superlative category for interview/trial/selection. The petitioner. Amit Chaudhary, who admittedly is Body Builder of national repute having been awarded the title of mr. India and a number of other meritorious awards and recognitions, applied for the post. To his misfortune, his application was not taken for consideration as he was not considered to fall within the category of sportsman. The decision of the departmental authorities obviously irked the Body Builders and their Association agitated, as it was, espoused the cause of the petitioner by approaching the departmental authorities as well as the Governor of the State. It was maintained that if a Body Builder is not considered to be a sportsman as has been done by the departmental authorities, the decision is likely to bring down the morale of the Body Builders and will mar their future prospects. The special Secretary to Governor of Uttar Pradesh addressed a letter dated 15. 7. 1999 to the Director general of Police, Lucknow, a copy of which is Annexure-5 to the writ petition, forwarding therewith a copy of the representation made by the Association. (Annexure-4 ). It appears that the departmental authorities did not change their stand and instead wrote to the Principal Secretary, home. U. P. Shashan Lucknow on 29. 7. 1999 by addressing a letter, a copy of which is annexure-C. A. 3 with the request that the G. O. dated 2. 1. 1999 be amended so as to exclude cricket, Table Tennis, Tennis. Cycling, Body Building, Rifle shooting, Khokho and Golf from the expression sports/games. No decision, it appears has been taken by the State Government as yet, in the matter. By means of this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for a direction to the respondents to hold selection of the petitioner for appointment to the post of Sub-Inspector, in pursuance of the advertisement dated 20. 4. 1999. Annexure-1 and the G. O. dated 2. 1. 1991, Annexure-2 to the writ petition in the sports quota.

( 2 ) COUNTER and rejoinder-affidavits have been exchanged and with the consent of the learned counsel for the parlies, this writ petition is being finally disposed of under the Rules of the Court, at this stage.

( 3 ) SRI Ranveer Singh. Assistant Commandant (Dy. Superintendent of Police ). 35 Bn. P. A. C. . Lucknow, who is attached in the office of D. I. G. . P. A. C. Lucknow and is also working as Sports officer U. P. Police has filed a counter-affidavit and also appeared before this Court to support the stand of the department. The stand taken in the counter-affidavit is that though there are 20 disciplines in games and sports. In which recruitment could be made in the light of the G. O. , the u. P. Police/p. A. C. Recruitment Board has decided that the candidates falling only in 12 disciplines be considered for recruitment as the said 12 disciplines are part of Alt India competition which are held under the aegis of All India Police Sports Control Board, New Delhi ; that for want of the infra-structural facilities in U. P. Police, recruitment in any other discipline is not feasible and in the meeting held















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