The revised verification procedure for Aadhar during tournaments is lawful and ensures due process for participants.

ORDER :

This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the following relief:

issue a Writ Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus Declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in issuing the Circular for Aadhar Card Verification during JR Tournaments vide BAI/GEN/BAI ID/075/2024 dated 11.06.2024 and the (i)consequential Circular for Aadhar History Verification during videJR Group BAI/AADHAR/VERIFICATION/078 dated 12.06.2024 illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 19 (1)(g) of the Constitution of India more particularly contrary to the provisions of the Aadhaar Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies benefits and services Act 2016 and the The Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969 and the Rules made there under consequently set aside the same Age Tournaments as To direct the 2nd respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on the Explanation dated 01.05.2023 submitted on behalf of the petitioner by his father pursuant to the Letter dated 22.04.2023 issued by the 2nd respondent To direct the respondents 2 and 3 herein to permit the Petitioner to permit the petitioner to participate in the upcoming the Badminton Tournaments to be conducted by the respondents 2 and 3 without reference to the Letter dated 22.04.2023 issued by the 2nd respondent And to pass…”

2. Sri Anup Koushik Karavadi, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the 1^st respondent and Sri Azim H Laskar and Sri Bikas Kargupta, learned counsel representing learned counsel for the 2^nd respondent are present.

3. Perused the material on record.

4. Learned counsel for the 2^nd respondent has filed a Memo along with Revised Circular For Aadhar History verification during JR. Age group tournaments vide BAI/GEN/AADHAR/157/2024 dated 28.09.2024 issued by the Badminton Association of India, wherein it is stated as follows:

“… If any protest comes during Junior Age Group Tournaments, and discrepancies are found in Aadhar history verification the players will not be immediate disqualified or excluded. Instead, the following procedure will be followed:

1. Players will be required to submit their consent/affidavit confirming that their date of birth is accurate. Additionally, they must agree to cooperate with any subsequent investigation that BAI may conduct.

2. If any minor players (U13, U11), the consent of parents/guardians will be required for accepting responsibility for the information provided.

3. Players must provide documents as per the BAI Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

to support their age verification.

4. If necessary, BAI will conduct a medical examination of the players to confirm their age eligibility.

5. If any player fails to provide the Aadhaar OTP for Aadhar history verification, they must submit an affidavit confirming the accuracy of their details. Failure to submit the affidavit will result in the player being ineligible to participate in the next BAI/State tournament and will not receive any certificates until the investigation is completed.

5. In view of the above revised Circular, learned counsel for the petitioner intends to close the writ petition.

6. Permission is accorded.

7. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, in this Writ Petition shall stand closed.

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DR. K. MANMADHA RAO, J.

Date : 21-01-2025 Gvl HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE K. MANMADHA RAO WRIT PETITON No.13094 of 2024 Date : 21.01.2025 Gvl