1 2025:CGHC:40744 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 4314 of 2025 1 - Murlidhar Bhardwaj S/o Late Shri Lilar Singh Aged About 63 Years R/o Ward No. 11, Near Shiv Mandir, Shanti Nagar, Rajnandgaon, District Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Sport And Youth Welfare, Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya, Atal Nagar, Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh 2 - The Director Sport And Youth Welfare, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium, Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh 3 - Sudarshan Kumar Singh S/o Late Shri Govind Singh R/o House No. 50/79, Ward No - 04 Guru Nanak Market, Dalli Rajhara, District Balod Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Sajal Kumar Gupta, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mrs. Akansha Verma Dabhadkar, Panel Lawyer Hon’ble Shri Justice Arvind Kumar Verma, Judge Order on Board 13/08/2025 1. The petitioner has filed the present petition praying for the following relief(s): “10.1 Issue any other appropriate writ, direction or order, thereby quashing and setting aside the 2 impugned order dated 27.08.2024 (bearing no. MF 4-23/2024/9), by which the Veer Hanuman Singh Award (Trainer) for the year 2021-22 has been conferred upon Private Respondent Sudarshan Kumar Singh, because the same has been issued in violation of statutory eligibility norms and upon misrepresentation of facts; 10.2 Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, direction or order, thereby directing the Respondent authorities to constitute a committee as per the Rule 11.3 of the Khiladiyon, Prashikshakon Evam Nirnayakon Ko Puraskar Niyam, 2004 to examine the award conferred upon private respondent in accordance with Rule 12 and 6 of the Khiladiyon, Prashikshakon Evam Nirnayakon Ko Puraskar Niyam, 2004 because the award was obtained through fraud and misrepresentation; 10.3 Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, direction or order, thereby directing the Respondent Authorities to constitute a committee as per the Rule 11.3 of the Khiladiyon, Prashikshakon Evam Nirnayakon Ko Puraskar Niyam, 2004 to decide the representation dated 01.07.2025 made by the petitioner in accordance 3 with the award rule 2004. 10.4 Issue a writ of mandamus or any appropriate direction to the Respondents to reconsider the application of the Petitioner for the Veer Hanuman Singh Award (Trainer) for the year 2021-22 in accordance with law and on merits, because the Petitioner fulfills all the requisite criteria and was arbitrarily excluded from the selection; 10.5 Pass any other order or direction as may be deemed just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, including costs of the petition, in the interest of justice.” 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the private respondent does not fulfill the mandatory eligibility criteria prescribed under Rule 6.3 of the Khiladiyon, Prashikshakon Evam Nirnayakon Ko Puraskar Niyam, 2004. As per the said rule, it is mandatory that the coach’s trainees must have won at least five medals in national championships or national games in the last 10 years, including at least one medal in the senior category at the national level, rendering him prima facie ineligible for the award. Despite the factual and legal disqualification, the Private respondent was unlawfully included in the interim and final selection list without proper scrutiny or adjudication of objections raised by the petitioner and other reputed stakeholders in the sports community. The selection process was conducted in a non-transparent and arbitrary manner, violating principles of natural justice and award was awarded to 4 him. 3. Learned State Counsel contended that the present petition may be disposed of with a direction to respondent no. 1 and 2 to decide the representation of the petitioner in accordance with law/rules/regulations. 4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions of the counsels, the respondent no. 1 & 2 are directed to decide the representation filed by the petitioner on 01.07.2025 in accordance with law/rules/ regulations. 5. With the aforesaid direction, the present petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Arvind Kumar Verma) JUDGE Madhurima