Writ petitions against private organizations not classified as 'State' under Article 12 are not maintainable, emphasizing the autonomy of state associations in conducting sports leagues.

JUDGMENT

The above writ petition is filed with following prayers:

“i. Issue a writ of certiorari or any appropriate writ or direction, to call for records leading to Ext.P1 circular and set aside the same.

ii. Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction directing the respondents 1 to 3 to take over the Kerala Premier League and conduct the same after drawing proper rules and regulation and conduct the State League Championship to select winners and runner ups among the District League Champions to be qualified for the 2^nd division I-League Championship.

iii. Pass any other appropriate writ, order or direction which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit to issue and the petitioner may pray from time to time.” (Sic)

2. Ext.P1 is a circular issued by the 4^th respondent. The 1^st petitioner is the former Junior Indian Football team Captain and former Indian Senior Football Team Player who also played for Kerala Police Football Team and retired form Government Service as the Commanding Chief Marshal in the Rank of Superintendent of Police. According to the 2^nd petitioner, he is a reputed coach in India, who was honoured by the Prime Minister for his achievements in sports and is the Secretary of Santos Football Club registered with the 4^th respondent. The 3^rd petitioner is also claims to be a former football player, who claims that he played for Kerala Police and is presently a recognised coach in India recognised by the National Institute of Sports. The grievance of the petitioners is that as per Ext.P1 circular issued by the 4^th respondent, an injustice is done to football lovers. According to the petitioners, Ext.P1 circular is issued by the 4^th respondent in an unjust, illegal manner violating the right to equality guaranteed by the Constitution in total defiance to the rules and regulations to be followed. It is contended that the 4^th respondent is conducting the Kerala Premier League (KPL for short) in total violation to equality and natural justice. The 4^th respondent, in order to induct teams of their choice, without formulating any rules and regulations is conducting the tournament in the name ‘Kerala Premier League’ without any authority. It is the grievance of the petitioners that huge amount is collected by the 4^th respondent for entry to the tournament. According to the petitioners, unlike in the previous years, from this year onwards the 4^th respondent has insisted for deposit of Rs.25,000/- with tax as an eligibility criteria for participating in the State Championship League. This, according to the petitioners is unjust, illegal and arbitrary, because many clubs in the State are unable to join the tournament because of the lack of money that too during this tougher times of Covid-19. It is also stated that various institutional teams like Central Excise, Port Trust and various other institutional teams are also not participating because the institution does not permit for participating in such kind of tournaments. According to the petitioners, the above act of fixing Rs.25,000/- with tax is done only by the Football Association of the State of Kerala and no other part of the country is receiving money from any of the football clubs for participating in the State League Tournament for a qualification to the 2^nd division of the I-league. It is also alleged that Ext.P1 circular offers a corporate entry to the tournament. It is the case of the petitioners that the 4^th respondent, in order to bring teams of their choice, has started a new entry called Corporate Entry, which permits any team directly to play the league, if they are ready to deposit 7.5 lakhs of rupees. According to the petitioners, the Kerala Footbal