Delhi High Court · 2025

$~134 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 11189/2025 DRAGON BOAT INDIA AND TRADITIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION .....Petitioner Through: versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR. .....Respondent Through: Mr. Vikramaditya Chauhan, Adv. for the applicant Mr. Udit Dedhiya (SPC) along with Ms. Apurva Sachdev, Mr. Dushyant Pratap Singh (GP). CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA % 19.08.2025 O R D E R CM APPL.51047/2025 (under Order I Rule 10 for impleadment as a party/respondent) 1. CM APPL.51047/2025 has been filed on behalf of the applicant / Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) seeking impleadment as a party / respondent in W.P.(C) 11189/2025, which has already been disposed vide order dated 12.08.2025. CM APPL. 51048/2025 (for modification of order dated 12.08.2025) 2. CM APPL. 51048/2025 has been filed on behalf of the applicant/ Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) seeking modification in paragraph 17 of the order dated 12.08.2025, passed by this Court in W.P.(C) 11189/2025. The relevant portion of the said order is reproduced as under:- “17. Considering that the petitioner's previous attempts to secure the inclusion of Dragon Boat Racing as a competitive sport have failed only on account of logistical/time constraints, and in view of the aforesaid circumstances, the following directions are issued: This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/08/2025 at 12:29:26 i. The respondent no.1 is directed to pursue the matter with the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (host of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, scheduled to be held from 21.08.2025 to 23.08.2025 at Dal Lake, Srinagar) for the inclusion of Dragon Boat Racing as a competitive sport in the said upcoming event. The same shall be subject to the petitioner providing complete logistical and technical support, including the provision of dragon boats, trained technical officials, selection camps, and all the requisite infrastructure, without causing any difficulty or inconvenience to the hosting State. The same shall also, necessarily, be subject to the approval/acquiescence of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. ii. The MYAS shall vigorously follow up with the organizers/ host UT with regard to the above it shall be ensured that immediate steps be taken for the above purpose. The MYAS is also directed to liase with the petitioner and the organisers (Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir). iii. The above arrangement shall be only for the purpose of Khelo India Water Sports Festival scheduled to be held from 21.08.2025 to 23.08.2025, at Dal Lake, Srinagar and shall not create any equity or right in favour of the petitioner for the purpose of future recognition, and/or for 'grant in aid' or for any other purpose. 18. The present petition stands disposed of in the above terms.” 3. The applicant asserts itself to be the sole nationally authorized and internationally recognized governing body for the sport of Dragon Boat in India, affiliated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS), Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association (IOA), International Canoe Federation (ICF), and Asian Canoe Confederation (ACC). 4. The applicant seeks modification of the aforementioned order to the extent that the applicant be permitted to provide logistical and technical support (including boats, trained technical officials, selection camps, equipment, infrastructure) for the Dragon Boat events scheduled to be held as part of the Khelo India Sports Festival 2025 at Dal Lake, Srinagar, in coordination with the host Union Territory and MYAS. 5. It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that the J&K This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/08/2025 at 12:29:26 Water Sports (Kayaking & Canoeing) Association, a State unit, vide communication dated 17.07.2025, confirmed that Dragon Boat would be included in the Khelo India Sports Festival 2025 and organized under the applicant’s banner, with technical support from the Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Federation, and with confirmations by Divisional Sports Officer at SKICC and the Secretary of Sports, J&K Sports Council. 6. Subsequently, the applicant approached the Director, Khelo India, SAI, vide letter dated 18.07.2025, seeking formal inclusion of Dragon Boat as a competitive discipline at the Srinagar event scheduled from 21st to 23rd7. The applicant has placed on record its past involvement in organizing Dragon Boat events across India, including: August 2025. Further, vide communication dated 31.07.2025, the applicant offered to provide complete logistical support, including boarding, lodging, and other necessary arrangements, to ensure the successful conduct of the Dragon Boat events in accordance with national and international standards. i) The First National Dragon Boat Race Championship held on 07.10.2007 at Srinagar, J&K; ii) The 3rd National Dragon Boat Race Championship held from 30.08.2014 to 02.09.2014 at Dal Lake, Srinagar; iii) Participation in the ACC 5th Asian Dragon Boat Championship, China (July 2018), securing six medals; iv) Conduct of trials and submission of athlete lists for Traditional Boat Race events at the Asian Games 2018, Indonesia; This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/08/2025 at 12:29:26 v) Participation and medal achievement at the Dragon Boat World Cup 2019, China. 8. Considering the erudite submissions made by Mr. Vikramaditya Chauhan, learned counsel for the applicant and the material placed on record, CM APPL.51047/2025 is allowed. Further, given the short time left for the commencement of the concerned sporting event, without going into the controversy as to whether the applicant should get precedence over the original petitioner for the purpose of organizing the Dragon Boat events in the upcoming sporting event, CM APPL. 51048/2025 is disposed of with the direction that the host Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir shall be at liberty to also avail the assistance of the applicant/ Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA), for the purpose of organizing the Dragon Boat events at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025, scheduled to be held at Dal Lake, Srinagar, from 21st to 23rd 9. Needless to say, the above shall not derogate from the directions already contained in order dated 12.08.2025. August 2025. 10. The applications stand disposed of in above terms. SACHIN DATTA, J AUGUST 19, 2025/ss