THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE E.V.VENUGOPAL WRIT PETITION No.23871 of 2024

ORDER:

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

“to issue a writ, order direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring action of the Respondent in not considering the Petitioner to play in league matches of Respondent and BCCI tournaments for the year 2024 - 2025 on the ground that the Petitioner is not having domicile in Telangana State for the last 5 years to qualify for selection pursuant to the Letter Dated 07.11.2023 is illegal, arbitrary, unjust and also violation of Articles 14, 15, 16, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India apart from violation of Rules and Regulations of Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI in its Letter Dated 09.08.2024 in Lr.No.BCCI/HQ/34 (J)/858 of 2024 consequently to set aside the Letter Dated 07.11.2023 followed by the Notification for HCA Leage A1 Division 2024 - 25 Dated 06.07.2024 by directing the Respondent to permit the Petitioner to play in league matches of Respondent apart from BCCI Tournaments for the year

2024 - 2025 and pass”.

2. The brief facts of the case is that the petitioner has born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and stayed there up to 2012 and thereafter, shifted to Hyderabad, wherein he registered his name in Aadhar Card on 07.05.2015 by mentioning his address as H.No.3-5-784/1/1, King Koti, Motor Khana, Himayathnagar, Hyderabad. The petitioner started playing Cricket since, 2013. On noticing his efficiency in playing Cricket, the respondent selected him as one of the players in Hyderabad Under-16 Cricket Team in South Zone Inter State Under-16 Tournament for Vijaya Merchant Trophy held at Mysore during 2014-15 and also selected as player in Hyderabad Under-19 Cricket Team in the All India Under-19 Cricket Tournament for Cooch Behar Trophy held at various venues in India during the years 2018- 19. The respondent has also issued Certificates, dated 26.11.2014 and 19.08.2019 by appreciating his efficiency. Later on, the respondent has issued Rules for a Local and Non- local players for registration for 2023-24 season wherein, the respondent made a new rule that “those who are born in India outside the Telangana State, but have a domicile in Telangana for the last 5 years”. Proof of Domicile for last 5 years should include school/college report for 5 years, bonafide certificate for 5 years, copy of original date of birth and copy of Aadhar Card issued with Telangana State address for 5 years. Pursuant to the said Rule, the respondent had issued notification for HCA League A-1 Division 2024-25, dated 06.07.2024 for registration of players. Pursuant to the said notification, respondent has issued a letter dated 07.11.2023 to All the Chairpersons and Members of the Selection Committee of the Hyderabad Cricket Association, wherein it had mentioned that pursuant to resolution made during the 1^st Apex Council Meeting pertaining to the Domicile criteria for eligibility to represent the State of Telangana (Team Hyderabad) in all age group categories for both Men and Women. By virtue of the said notification and letter, the respondent is refrained the petitioner to select as one of the players to represent on behalf of Hyderabad Team on the ground that the petitioner born in Meerut and he is not a Domicile of State of Telangana. Therefore, the present writ petition.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner has submitted that in similar circumstances, this Court has already set aside the notification/letter, dated 07.11.2023 issued by the respondent in W.P.No.28136 of 2024, dated 03.04.2025 and directed the respondent to consider the eligibility of the petitioner for selection as a player for the State of Telangana.

4. A perusal of the order in W.P.No.28136 of 2024 would show that the petitioner therein was born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh and later moved to Hyderabad, Telangana in the end of 2017 and he was playing league