The High Court may issue a writ of mandamus compelling government authorities to dispose of pending representations within a specified timeframe, ensuring administrative accountability and the timely exercise of official discretion in matters concerning sports federation recognition.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 27-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI All India Silambam Represented By Its General Secretary Mrs.S. Pandian, Reg No 58/2006 Having Its Head Office At No.11 Palandeeswrar Koil Street, Mangdu, Chennai 600 112 ..Petitioner Vs

1. Union of India, Represented by The Secretary to Government, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport, Department of Sports, Government of India, Room No.3, C-Wing Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi-110001

2. The Deputy Secretary to Government, Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports, Department Of Sports, Government Of India, Halla No. 103, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Lodhi Road, New Delhi 3. The Director (Sports)

Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports, Department Of Sports, Government Of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi ..Respondents Writ Petition filed under Art.226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the Respondents herein to consider and pass orders on the petitioners representation dated 02.12.2025 with regard to restore the petitioners recognition which was already granted in F.No.9, 8/2018- SP-I/SP-III dated 11.03.2021 so as to enable the petitioner to conduct National Silambam Championship and to send Indian to conduct National Silambam Championship and to send Indian Team to the ensuing 3rd South Asian Silambam Championship- 2026 to be held at Sri Lanka from 17-20/05/2026 within the time frame as deem fit by this Court For Petitioner : Ms. Daisy for M/s.Bala and Daisy For Respondents : Mr. M.Ramamoorthy for R1 to R3

ORDER

The petitioner has come forward with this Writ Petition seeking a direction to the Respondents herein to consider and pass orders on the petitioner’s representation dated 02.12.2025 with regard to restore the petitioner’s recognition which was already granted in F.No.9, 8/2018-SP-I/SP- III dated 11.03.2021 so as to enable the petitioner to conduct National Silambam Championship and to send Indian to conduct National Silambam Championship and to send Indian Team to the ensuing 3rd South Asian Silambam Championship- 2026 to be held at Sri Lanka from 17-20/05/2026 within the time frame as deem fit by this Court.

2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner association is a registered society with Regn.No.58 of 2006. On 11.03.2021, the first respondent had recognised the petitioner as Regional Sports Federation (RSF) vide proceedings in F.No.9-8/2018-SP-I/SP-III, dated 11.03.2021 , pursuant to which, the 4^th respondent herein has passed an order dated 20.04.2022 granting recognition to the sport of Silambam to the Tamilnadu Amateur Silambam Association, which is an active member of the petitioner’s Federation. Thereafter, since necessary statutory forms were not filed before the Registrar of Societies, the recognition granted to the petitioner society has been cancelled. The 2^nd respondent passed an order withdrawing the recognition granted to the petitioner on the ground that the petitioners legal status as voluntarily registered entity was not fulfilled. Thereafter, the Government vide G.D.No.359 Commercial Taxes and Registration (M.2) Department dated 21.11.2023 stated that the steps taken by the petitioner to develop the sport of Silambam is genuine and acceptable. On 01.10.2024, an order was passed rejecting the claim of the petitioner for recognition as Regional Sports Federation and the said order was challenged by the petitioner in WP.No.30300 of 2024 and the said Writ Petition was disposed of by this court by issuing a direction to the 2^nd respondent to deal with the applications made by AISF and ISF seeking recognition strictly in line with the National Sports Code, 2011