Kerala High Court
Champakulam Boat Club vs The District Collector on 31 August, 2022
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN
WEDNESDAY, THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST 2022 / 9TH BHADRA, 1944
WP(C) NO. 27972 OF 2022
PETITIONERS:
1 CHAMPAKULAM BOAT CLUB,
CHAMPAKULAM P.O
ALAPPUZHA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARYM C KUNJAPPAN,
PIN - 611515
2 ST JOHNS BOAT CLUB,
THEKKEKARA P.O MONKOMPU,
ALAPPUZHA , REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY LIJO JOHN, PIN
- 688503
BY ADVS.
MANU GOVIND
A.JAYASANKAR
AYESHA MARIA JOHN
RESPONDENTS:
1 THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR
CIVIL STATION WARD, ALAPPUZHA, KERALA, PIN - 688001
2 NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE SOCIETY
ALAPPUZHA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY SUB COLLECTOR,
ALAPPUZHA., PIN - 688001
3 THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER AND CONVENER INFRASTRUCTURE
COMMITTEE NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE 2022
OFFICE OF THE COLLECTORATE ALAPPUZHA CIVIL STATION
WARD, ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 688001
4 THE CHAIRMAN
NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE SOCIETY ALAPPUZHA (DISTRICT
COLLECTOR, ALAPPUZHA) CIVIL STATION WARD, ALAPPUZHA,,
PIN - 688001
OTHER PRESENT:
0
WPC No.27972/2022 2
GP RAJEEV JYOTHISH GEORGE
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 31.08.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WPC No.27972/2022 3
V.G.ARUN J.
-------------------------------------
W.P.(C) No.27972 of 2022
---------------------------------
Dated this the 31st day of August 2022
JUDGMENT
Petitioners are Boat Clubs participating in the Boat Race held
in the State. Grievance of the petitioners is regarding clause No.18
of Ext.P2 guidelines issued in connection with the 68th Nehru
Trophy Boat Race to be conducted on 4/9/2022. Clause 18 requires
the participants to use Oars made of palm wood. Petitioners
submit that all through out, they have been participating using
wooden Oars, and introduction of a new clause will affect their
winning chance detrimentally.
2. Learned Government Pleader submits that certain
complaints were received against use of wooden Oars by the first
petitioner team during the Moolam Boat Race. After finding
substance in the complaint, Clause No.18 was incorporated in
Ext.P2 guidelines. It is submitted that, as per instructions received
all through out, the practice has been to use Oars made of palm
wood and only the members of the first petitioner are allegedly
using fibre and wooden Oars.
3. Having heard the learned counsel on either side, I am of the
opinion that the dispute involved herein cannot be resolved in
proceedings under Article 226.
4. Therefore, the writ petition is disposed of directing the
second respondent to consider Exts.P3 and P4 representations
submitted by the petitioners immediately, if necessary by affording
an opportunity of hearing to the other participating teams also.
Considering that the Nehru Trophy Boat race is scheduled to be
held on 4/9/2022, the second respondent shall pass orders on
Exts.P3 and P4 on or before 3/9/2022.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the
petitioners are willing to appear at the office of the second
respondent at 3.p.m. on 2/9/2022. If so, the second respondent
shall hear the petitioners on the same day.
Sd/-
V.G.ARUN
Judge
dpk
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 27972/2022
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 COPY OF THE GUIDELINES DATED 27.07.2019
ISSUED IN 2019 FOR THE 67TH BOAT RACE
Exhibit P2 COPY OF THE GUIDELINES DATED 25.08.2022
ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT ON 27.08.2022
Exhibit P3 COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 27.08.2022
FROM THE 1ST PETITIONER TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT
Exhibit P4 COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 27.08.2022
FROM THE 2ND PETITIONER TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT
