Kerala High Court
Kottayam District Tennikoit ... vs State Of Kerala on 8 October, 2025
Author: N.Nagaresh
Bench: N.Nagaresh
2025:KER:73965
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH
WEDNESDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025 / 16TH ASWINA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 34533 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
KOTTAYAM DISTRICT TENNIKOIT ASSOCIATION
KOTTAYAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,
MRS. VINEETHA VIJAYAN, AGED 39 YEARS,
D/O VIJAYAN, VIDYANIKETHAN HOUSE,
MALAM P.O., KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686019.
BY ADVS.
SHRI.BHARATH MURALI
SHRI.MANU NAIR G.
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS & YOUTH AFFAIRS,
SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001.
2 KERALA STATE SPORTS COUNCIL
STATUE, PALAYAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 695001
3 KOTTAYAM DISTRICT SPORTS COUNCIL,
INDOOR STADIUM, KURIAN UTHOOP ROAD,
NAGAMBADAM, KOTTAYAM,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 686001.
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W.P.(C) No.34533/2025
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4 KERALA STATE TENNIKOIT ASSOCIATION,
AMBALAYAM, KUTTIKATTUKARA P.O., ELOOR,
ERNAKULAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT,
PIN - 683501.
BY ADV.SMT.LATHA ANAND, STANDING COUNSEL
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY
HEARD ON 25.09.2025, THE COURT ON 08.10.2025 DELIVERED
THE FOLLOWING:
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W.P.(C) No.34533/2025
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N. NAGARESH, J.
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W.P.(C) No.34533 of 2025
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Dated this the 8th day of October, 2025
JUDGMENT
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The Kottayam District Tennikoit Association
is the petitioner. The petitioner states that the petitioner-
Association is an affiliated sports body under the Kerala State
Sports Council and District Sports Council, dedicated to
promoting Tennikoit in Kottayam.
2. Election to the petitioner-Association was
held on 27.07.2024 and office bearers were selected. The
Observer deputed by the 4th respondent-Kerala State
Tennikoit Association failed to attend the election process.
The petitioner-Association forwarded the list of elected office
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bearers to respondents 3 and 4 for approval. By Ext.P3, the
list was rejected on the ground that the 4th respondent has not
signed the list.
3. The petitioner states that rejection of the list
is illegal. The petitioner-Association had no role in the
absence of the 4th respondent's Observer. The petitioner
therefore submitted Ext.P4 representation before
respondents 3 and 4. The representations have not been
considered.
4. The petitioner had filed W.P.(C)
No.39922/2024 seeking to quash Ext.P3. This Court passed
an interim order directing the respondents 2 and 3 to appoint
Observer for the championship scheduled to be held on
12.11.2024. The writ petition is still pending.
5. The petitioner submitted Exts.P6 to P8
requests to respondents 3 and 4 seeking deputation of
competent Observers to oversee the entire process of re-
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election. Exts.P6 to P8 were not responded to. The
petitioner submits that there is no statutory rule, regulation or
guideline which restrains the deputation of Observers to
affiliated District Association. The petitioner therefore seeks
to direct respondents 3 and 4 to forthwith depute competent
Observers to oversee the re-election of the petitioner-
Association scheduled to be held on 20.09.2025.
6. I have heard the learned counsel for the
petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel representing the
2nd respondent.
7. The petitioner is seeking deputation of an
Observer for conducting election to its Executive Committee.
Chapter IX Rule 74 of the Kerala Sports Rules, 2008
mandates that elections to Executive Committees of District
Sports Association should be conducted in the presence of
an Observer nominated by the State Sports Council. In the
case of the petitioner-Association, the 4th respondent-State
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Association has not nominated an Observer. The 2nd
respondent would submit that they can nominate any
Observer only if the State Association gives a letter to that
effect.
8. In the afore facts of the case, a direction
cannot be given by this Court to respondents 3 and 4 to
depute Observers to oversee the re-election of the petitioner-
Association.
The writ petition is hence dismissed.
Sd/-
N. NAGARESH, JUDGE
aks/04.10.2025
2025:KER:73965
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 34533/2025
PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
26.07.2024 ISSUED BY THE 3RD
RESPONDENT APPOINTING MR. SHAJI K.R.
AS OBSERVER
Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE MINUTES AND REPORT
DATED 27.07.2024 EVIDENCING THE
ELECTION OF THE NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Exhibit P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
21/8/2024
Exhibit P4 A TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION
DATED 24/10/2024
Exhibit P5 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
6/11/2024
Exhibit P6 A TRUE COPY OF THE REQUEST SUBMITTED
BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 3RD
RESPONDENT DATED NIL
Exhibit P7 A TRUE COPY OF THE REQUESTS SUBMITTED
BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE PRESIDENT
OF THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED NIL
Exhibit P8 A TRUE COPY OF THE REQUESTS SUBMITTED
BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE SECRETARY
OF THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED NIL
Exhibit P9 A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED
12.09.2025 ISSUED BY THE 3RD
RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER
