$~46 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 936/2026 & CM APPL. 4593/2026 MANJEET .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Neha Singh, Advocate alongwith petitioner in person.

versus INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION (IOA) AND ORS...Respondents Through: Ms. Aashita Khanna, Ms. Aanya Agarwal and Mr. Vidushdat Singhania, Advocates for R-1 and 2 with Captain Ajay Kumar Narang (Retd), Executive Assistant to the President of IOA.

Mr. Ruchir Mishra, SPC with Mr.

Sanjiv Kuma Saxena, Mr. Mukesh Kumar Tiwari, Ms. Reba Jena Mishra, Ms. Poonam Shukla, Advocates and Mr. Shubhendu, GP for UOI.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT SHARMA

O R D E R

% 23.01.2026

1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

2. The present petition has been listed before this Court by way of transfer on urgent mentioning.

CM APPL. 4594/2026 (exemption)

3. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. Application is disposed of.

W.P.(C) 936/2026 & CM APPL. 4593/2026 (stay)

4. The present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, seeks following prayers:-

“A. Issue a writ of Mandamus/Certiorari directing the Respondents to forthwith include the Petitioner in the list of athletes representing India in Cross Country Skiing at the Winter Olympic Games, Milano Cortina

2026;

B. Declare the exclusion of the Petitioner from Olympic selection as arbitrary, illegal, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India;

C. Quash the constitution and functioning of the Ad-hoc Committee insofar as it relates to the selection of athletes, being ex facie illegal, conflicted, and unsustainable in law;

D. Pass such other and further orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit in the interests of justice, equity, and fair play.”

5. By way of present petition, the petitioner has challenged the decision of respondent No. 1 in forwarding the name of one athlete, Mr. Stanzin Lundup in the category of cross-country skiing for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, Milano Cortina 2026. It is the submission on behalf of the petitioner that as per the eligibility criteria, the petitioner was ranked number one in FIS standing; however, that has been overlooked in forwarding the name of the aforesaid, Mr. Stanzin Lundup. It is also contented on behalf of the petitioner that the ad-hoc committee constituted as per Office Order dated 13.10.2023 issued by President, Indian Olympic Association, in consultation and recommendation by International Ski & Snowboard Federation (ISF), has not been ratified by the Executing Council and/or General Meeting of the Indian Olympic Association, and further, the constitution of the said ad-hoc Committee is also challenged on account of the fact that one of the Members, namely, Mr. Arif Mohd. Khan, is a competing athlete and his name has also been sent in the category of Men Alpine Skiing in the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, Milano Cortina 2026, under the quota, and thus, creating a conflict of interest.

6. On a pointed query, Captain Ajay Kumar Narang (Retd), Executive Assistant to the President of IOA, who has appeared through video conferencing, submitted that the names of two athletes Mr. Arif Mohd. Khan, for Men Alpine Skiing, and Mr. Stanzin Lundup, in the category of cross- country skiing, has been forwarded for the participation in the aforesaid Winter Olympic Games 2026.

7. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.3/Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS), who appears on advance notice, has handed up in Court today a communication dated 22.01.2026, which reads as under:

-

“Sports Authority of India (TEAMS Division)

Date: 22.01.2026 Comments regarding participation of Indian contingent in Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026 - reg.

Kindly refer to the letter No. 70-2/2026-Gov-l dated 16th Jan, 2026 forwarding the IOA's letter No. 10A/Sec-111/WOG-26/2703 dated 15th Jan, 2026 regarding participation of the Indian contingent in the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026, from 6th to 22nd Feb, 2026, the following has been submitted as per a