IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** 118 CWP-19264-2026 Date of Decision:17.06.2026 Aranaya Thakur …..Pe//oner Vs. Union of India and Others .….Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK GUPTA Present:- Mr. Babbar Bhan, Advocate for the peoner. **** DEEPAK GUPTA, J. (ORAL) By way of this civil writ peon filed under Arcle 226/227 of the Constuon of India, peoner prays for issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus for direcng the respondents to invoke the Relaxaon Clause under Para 5 of the Ministry Selecon Criteria dated 24.09.2025 (Annexure P-6) in a me bound manner as well as for direcng respondent No.4 (India Taekwondo) to conduct a selecon trial in the merged Under- 57 KG Women’s Category for the upcoming 20th Asian Games (Aichi Nagoya, 2026) between the peoner and other eligible/affected athlete from the subsumed divisions (Under-53 kg and Under-57 kg), to determine the athlete with the highest current performance capacity and medal- winning potenal can be forwarded to the Asian Games, 2026. 2. It is submi;ed by learned counsel for the peoner that peoner is a silver medalist at the World Taekwondo Cadet Championship and India’s top-ranked Senior athlete in the Under-57 kg category. Due to an external structural modificaon introduced by the Asian Taekwondo Union, sixteen standard weight categories were compressed into eight for the 2026 Asian Games, causing the separate Under-53 Kg and Under-57 Kg divisions to be subsumed into a single NEETIKA TUTEJA 2026.06.17 19:12 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-19264-2026 Under-57 kg event. Learned counsel submits that peoner has secured Gold in the Open Selecon Trials for the specific Under-57 kg division. However, respondent No.4 forwarded the name of lower-weight category athlete, who won Bronze in the Under-53 kg division at the Asian Championship, without evaluang their current compeve merit within the actual 57 kg environment. 3. Learned counsel submits that exisng criteria did not contemplate this category merger, making a direct, head-to-head Selecon Trial between the eligible athletes from both subsumed divisions absolutely imperave to ensure public interest and maximize India’s medal prospects. Learned counsel has referred to Para 5 of the Formulaon of the Selecon Criteria for Individuals and Teams for Parcipaon in the 2026 Asian Games, Para-Asian Games 2026 and other mulsports events (Annexure P-6), as per which if in the opinion of the experts of the specific sports disciplines and SAI, the parcipaon of individuals and team in relaxaon of the above criteria (as menoned in para No.4) is recommended with jusfiable reasons, the same will be considered in the Ministry for appropriate decision. 4. Learned counsel further submits that peoner has made a representaon (Annexure P-7) to the competent authories, but no acon has been taken so far. The only prayer made by learned counsel for the peoner at this stage is to consider the said representaon (Annexure P- 7) as per the Relaxaon Clause. 5. Noce of moon. 6. Mr. Sudhir Nar, Senior Panel Counsel accepts noce on behalf of respondent Nos.1 to 3; Mr. Mohit Garg, Advocate accepts noce on behalf of respondent No.4 and Mr. Saurabh Jain, Advocate put in appearance through Video Conferencing and accepts noce on behalf of respondent No.5. NEETIKA TUTEJA 2026.06.17 19:12 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-19264-2026 7. Learned counsel appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 3 submits that respondent No.1- UOI has no objecon so as to consider the representaon (Annexure P-7). Learned counsel for respondent No.4 also submits that name of the peoner should be recommended having regard to the previous achievements. However, peon is opposed by learned counsel for respondent No.5 submiGng that in view of Clause 4(ii) (a) of the Formulaon Selecon Criteria (Annexure P-6), peoner is not entled for the relief. 8. Having considered submissions of both the sides, the present peon is hereby disposed of with the direcon to the competent authority- respondent(s) so as to consider the representaon (Annexure P-7) on or before 23.06.2026 within the parameters menoned in Annexure P-6. (DEEPAK GUPTA) JUDGE June 17, 2026 Neeka Tuteja Whether Speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether Reportable Yes/No NEETIKA TUTEJA 2026.06.17 19:12 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document