Orissa High Court
Case Details
Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: BHABAGRAHI JHANKAR Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 07-Apr-2025 14:58:06 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.8267 of 2025 Base Ball Association of Odisha, Barabati Stadium, Cuttack and Anr. …. Petitioner(s) Union of India & Ors. Represented By Mr. Sanjib Swain, Adv. -versus- …. Opposite Party(s) Represented By Mr. B. Maharana, Sr. Panel Counsel, Mr. B. Maharana, Adv. Mr. D.N. Mishra, Adv. Along with Mr. Shiv Sankar Mohanty, Adv. (for O.P.3) CORAM: DR. JUSTICE S.K. PANIGRAHI
Decision
ORDER 03.04.2025 Order No. 03. 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement. 2. In this Writ Petition, the Petitioner No.1/ Base Ball Association of Odisha being represented through its General Secretary/Petitioner No.2 have challenged the letter dated 07.03.2025/Annexure-10 issued by the Secretary General, Amateur Baseball Federation of India/ Opposite Party No.3. Apart from the above challenge, the Petitioners have also sought for a direction from this Court to the Secretary, Page 1 of 7 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: BHABAGRAHI JHANKAR Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 07-Apr-2025 14:58:06 Amateur Baseball Federation of India/ Opposite Party No.2 for permitting the Petitioner No.1-Association to conduct the 30th Sub- Junior National Baseball Championship of Boy and Girls along with Little League National Baseball Championship for Boys and Girls (Mixed Team) as per the fixed schedule from 5th April, 2025 to 10th April, 2025 at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 3. Heard learned counsel for the Parties and perused the materials placed on record. 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioners submits that after getting some instructions for conducting the above noted event, though the Petitioners have made all the arrangements, the authority concerned, all of a sudden, has changed the venue. He further submits that the sudden change of venue and time for conducting the aforesaid two National Championships as announced by the Secretary General of the Opposite Party No.3 Association would cause serious financial loss, damage to the reputation of the Petitioner’s Association as the Petitioner’s Association have already invested a significant time, effect and financial resources in preparing the field to host these National Championship having secured all necessary permission and approval well in advance. Now, the match schedule date and place have been changed to Akal College Council, Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur, Punjab by the Opposite Party No.3 in taking unilateral decision. 5. He further submits that sudden un-notified change of the venue for the upcoming National Championship events, which was initially Page 2 of 7 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: BHABAGRAHI JHANKAR Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 07-Apr-2025 14:58:06 scheduled to be held at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha is illegal. The venue has been shifted to the State of Punjab without following due procedure and without any prior notice, formal, meetings or discussions with the Association of the Odisha. The Petitioner No.1- Association has already completed all necessary preparation for conducting the events in Bhubaneswar, including booking of the venue, securing accommodations for participants and staff and arranging for other essential logistics. The Petitioner No.1 Association have made advance payment which are now non-refundable. The aforesaid payment includes booking for the playgrounds and the rooms as well as field preparation resulting direct financial loss to the Association. The Petitioner No.1 Association have already made extensive arrangement in Bhubaneswar for all aspects of the event and the new location in the State of Punjab creates significant logistical issues. Arrangement for travel and accommodation plans at the last minute will cause unnecessary disruptions to the teams, officials and other involved parties. Hence, the prayer made by the Petitioner may be allowed. 6. Learned counsel for the Opposite Party Nos.2 and 3/ Amateur Baseball Federation of India submits that the Petitioners have suppressed the material facts and filed the present Writ Petition. The decision of postponement of the above Championships was taken after thorough discussion with local Organising Secretary, Base Ball Association of Orissa, in regard to academic session affecting the players’ availability and travel constraints due to difficulty in booking train tickets. Hence, it Page 3 of 7 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: BHABAGRAHI JHANKAR Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 07-Apr-2025 14:58:06 cannot be said that changing date and venue was in an arbitrary manner. 7. It is further submitted that following the terms of the NATIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CODE OF INDIA, 2011, the Amateur Baseball Federation of India always decides/announces the venue and dates of the National Level Championships to be conducted by the respective recognised State Association(s) within a financial year not beyond that. Thereafter, the same was communicated to the organising State Association(s) to conduct the Championship. In the present case, the Petitioners without taking prior permission from the Opposite Party No.2 fixed the Championships date from 5th to 10th April, 2025, which is not permissible as it exceeds the Sports Calendar of 2024-2025. The said Championship is to be completed within the financial year ending on 31st March 2025. It cannot be extended to another financial year. Furthermore, no permission were accorded to the Petitioners Association to conduct the Championship to be held from 5th April to 10th April 2025. 8. Initially announcement of the 30th Sub-Junior National Baseball Championship of Boy and Girls along with Little League National Baseball Championship for Boys and Girls (Mixed Team) scheduled to be held from 17th to 23rd March, 2025 at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Accordingly, Teams were invited to participate and the Championship was expected to proceed as per planned date. Page 4 of 7 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: BHABAGRAHI JHANKAR Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 07-Apr-2025 14:58:06 9. However, considering multiple requests received from different recognised State Association(s) to postpone the Championship, the Amateur Baseball Federation of India (ABFI) decided to postpone the Championship after thorough discussion with the local organising General Secretary, Base Ball Association of Orissa (Petitioner No. 2) for the following reasons; (i) Academic Examinations: A significant numbers of players had their school examinations during the scheduled period, impacting their participation; and (ii) Travel constraints: The Holi Festival on 14th March, 2025 caused difficulties in booking train tickets, making travel arrangement challenging for Teams. 10. In the above context, it is contended that following the terms of the NATIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CODE OF INDIA, 2011, it was mutually agreed through verbal discussion to conduct the National Championship within 31st March, 2025 i.e. within the Financial Year of 2024-2025. However, the Petitioners failed to arrange the Championships dates within 31st March, 2025 and in deviation to the mutual agreement it had proposed the dates from 5th to 10th April, 2025 to conduct the National Championships, which exceeded the Financial Year, 2024-2025 deadline and violated the NATIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CODE OF INDIA, 2011. 11. As the Championships in question is a part the Calendar of Events for the Financial Year, 2024-2025, it is imperative for the Opposite Page 5 of 7 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: BHABAGRAHI JHANKAR Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 07-Apr-2025 14:58:06 Party Nos.2 and 3 to complete the same before 31st March, 2025. In fact, for the timely completion of the Championships and for the interest and benefits of the players eligibility and records, the Opposite Party Nos.2 and 3 took immediate decision and shifted the venue and given revised dates to ensure timely completion of the Championships within the Financial Year 2024-2025. 12. It is further contended that the Opposite Party Nos.2 and 3 had never received the letter dated 12.03.2025 (Annexure-11) of the Writ Petition. Even mode of communication of the above said letter to the Opposite Party No.2 was not given and/or disclosed in the Writ Petition. 13. However, due to interim order dated 23.03.2025 passed in I.A. No.4628 of 2025 arising out of W.P.(C) No.8267 of 2025 by this Court, the 30th Sub-Junior National Baseball Championship of Boy and Girls along with Little League National Baseball Championship for Boys and Girls (Mixed Team) were cancelled. 14. Hence, extending the Championship of the Financial Year, 2024-2025 to another Financial Year i.e. Financial Year, 2025-2026 is not permissible under THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CODE OF INDIA, 2011. 15. In view of the aforesaid discussions, this Writ Petition is dismissed. However, the Secretary, Amateur Baseball Federation of India/ Opposite Party No.2 shall favorably consider the Petitioners’ concern Page 6 of 7 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: BHABAGRAHI JHANKAR Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 07-Apr-2025 14:58:06 in the next financial year and will try to accommodate their sportsman spirit. 16. Interim order passed earlier stands vacated. Judge ( Dr. S.K. Panigrahi) B. Jhankar Page 7 of 7