Court Criticizes Indian Olympic Association and Ministry for Failing to Uphold Fairness and Transparency in Athlete Selection
In a landmark judgment delivered by the Delhi High Court on January 30, 2026, the Court directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to include Manjeet, an athlete specializing in Cross Country Skiing, in the list of athletes representing India at the XXV Olympic Winter Games, Milano Cortina 2026. The decision comes after the Court found the selection process to be arbitrary and unfair, thereby violating the principles of natural justice and the constitutional rights of the petitioner.
The judgment was rendered by Justice Jasmeet Singh, who criticized the IOA and its Ad-hoc Committee for failing to adhere to the prescribed qualification criteria set forth by the International Federation of Ski and Snowboard (FIS). The Court emphasized that the selection process must be transparent, fair, and merit-based, reflecting the highest standards of procedural fairness.
Manjeet was excluded from the selection despite fulfilling all objective eligibility criteria under the FIS Qualification System. The Court noted that he occupied the top position in the official FIS ranking for the 2025-2026 assessment period, which was achieved through cumulative performance across five valid FIS races. The petition highlighted that the selection process unfairly relied on the performance of another athlete, Mr. Stanzing Lundup, in a single World Championship event, contrary to the objective points-based criteria prescribed by FIS.
The judgment underscored that participation in the World Championship was not a mandatory condition for Olympic selection under the FIS framework, which relies on a points-based system for assessing athlete eligibility. The IOA's reliance on the World Championship as a determinative factor for selection was deemed misplaced and not traceable to any provision in the international qualification documents.
Justice Singh expressed disapproval of the casual and cavalier manner in which the IOA and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports conducted themselves, stressing that their actions deprived the petitioner of his legitimate opportunity to represent India at the Olympics. The Court directed the Ministry to make all reasonable efforts to facilitate the petitioner's participation in the Winter Games and warned against the erosion of public confidence in India's sports governance due to such arbitrary practices.
The judgment serves as a reminder of the critical importance of transparency and meritocracy in sports governance, particularly in the selection process for representing the nation at international events. It highlights the judiciary's role in safeguarding the rights of athletes and ensuring accountability within sports institutions.
Bottom Line:
Selection process for athletes - Selection process for representation in international sports events must adhere strictly to the prescribed qualification criteria and be transparent, fair, and merit-based.
Statutory provision(s): Article 226 of the Constitution of India, Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India
Manjeet v. Indian Olympic Association (IOA), (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2845724
