Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2026 Supreme(Online)(Ker) 26324

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, J
SURYA M B – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF KERALA – Respondent
WP(C) NO. 12812 OF 2026

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: SRI.V.A.VINOD, SHRI.SUHAIL M.
For the Respondents: SRI. RAJEEV JYOTHISH GEORGE, GP, SMT.LATHA ANAND, SC

Observer-countersigned sports certificates must be provisionally endorsed to avoid prejudice despite disputes.

Headnote:The petitioner, a sportsperson who secured medals in state and zone level shooting championships, sought endorsement of certificates by the sports council to claim grace marks before the Public Service Commission rank list publication. Certificates were countersigned by the council's observer but not officially endorsed due to a dispute over association elections. The court found that non-endorsement would cause serious prejudice to the petitioner, noting prior similar interventions. The issue framed was whether the sports council must endorse observer-countersigned certificates despite election disputes. The ratio decidendi held that observer countersignature suffices for provisional endorsement to prevent prejudice, directing the council to act accordingly pending further proceedings. The court directed provisional countersignature of the certificates and disposed of the writ petition.

Table of Content
1. petitioner's sports achievements and need for certificate endorsement. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. observer endorsement binds council despite disputes. (Para 4)

JUDGMENT

Petitioner has approached this Court with the following relief :

a) Issue a writ of mandamus or any appropriate writ order or direction, directing the 2^nd respondent to countersign/endorse Ext.P2 and P3 certificates enabling the petitioner to produce the same before the Public Service Commission before publication of rank list.

2. Petitioner was a member of Palakkad District Rifle Association and National Rifle Association of India and has secured various medals in different levels including National Level Championships. Due to the inaction of the second respondent in endorsing the certificates secured by the petitioner at the State and Zone level championships, petitioner has approached this Court with this petition.

3. The certificates issued to the petitioner have been countersigned by the observer of the Kerala State Sports Council. However, despite the said countersign of the observer, the Kerala State Sports Council has not officially countersigned the certificate, which is required for enabling the petitioner to obtain grace marks and other benefits on account of winning prizes. There is a dispute between the Kerala State Sports Council as well as the Association regarding the elections to the Association.

4. Notwithstanding the above dispute, since the observer of the Kerala State Sports Council has already countersigned the certificate, I am of the view that serious prejudice will be caused to the petitioner if the Sports Council does not endorse the certificate issued to her. In similar instances also this Court had interfered and directed the Sports Council to endorse such certificates. Considering the entire circumstances, I am of the view that certificates issued to the petitioner also must be endorsed by the Sports Council.

Accordingly, there will be a direction to the second respondent to countersign/endorse Ext.P2 and Ext.P3 certificates provisionally, pending disposal of the writ petition.

The writ petition is disposed of.

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2026 Supreme(Online)(Ker) 26324

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAMBECHU KURIAN THOMAS, JSURYA M B – AppellantVersusSTATE OF KERALA – RespondentWP(C) NO. 12812 OF 2026

Observer-countersigned sports certificates must be provisionally endorsed to avoid prejudice despite disputes.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, J
SURYA M B – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF KERALA – Respondent
WP(C) NO. 12812 OF 2026