$~3 to 6 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 29.10.2025 + W.P.(C) 12805/2023 & CM APPL. 62692/2025 MAHARASHTRA CARROM ASSOCIATION .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Aseem Mehrotra and Ms. Deeksha Mehrotra, Advs. Mob: 9811062351 Email: mehrotra.aseem@yahoo.co.in versus UNION OF INDIA AND ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Arnav Kumar, Mr. Adit Garg and Mr. Keshav Mittal, Advocates for R-2 Mob: 9718126921 Mr. Atif Suhrawardy and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Advs. for AICF. Mob: 9667075656 Email: pkj5646@gmail.com 4 + W.P.(C) 17077/2024 & CM APPL. 62697/2025 UNION TERRITORY PONDICHERRY CARROM ASSOCIATION .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Aseem Mehrotra and Ms. Deeksha Mehrotra, Advs. Mob: 9811062351 Email: mehrotra.aseem@yahoo.co.in versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Arnav Kumar, Mr. Adit Garg and Mr. Keshav Mittal, Advocates for R-1 Mob: 9718126921 Mr. Atif Suhrawardy and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Advs. for AICF. Mob: 9667075656 Email: pkj5646@gmail.com 5 + W.P.(C) 3099/2025 & CM APPL. 62689/2025 RAVI KUMAR .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Aseem Mehrotra and Ms. Deeksha Mehrotra, Advs. Mob: 9811062351 Email: mehrotra.aseem@yahoo.co.in versus UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Atif Suhrawardy and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Advs. for AICF. Mob: 9667075656 Email: pkj5646@gmail.com 6 + W.P.(C) 8665/2025 & CM APPL. 62545/2025 MAHARASHTRA CARROM ASSOCIATION .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Aseem Mehrotra and Ms. Deeksha Mehrotra, Advs. Mob: 9811062351 Email: mehrotra.aseem@yahoo.co.in versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Udit Dedhiya, SPC with Ms. Apurva Sachdeva, Advocate for UOI Mob: 9619444355 Email: uditdedhiyaoffice@gmail.com Mr. Atif Suhrawardy and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Advs. for AICF. Mob: 9667075656 Email: pkj5646@gmail.com CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MINI PUSHKARNA MINI PUSHKARNA, J. (ORAL): 1. The present batch of writ petitions have been filed inter alia seeking directions for quashing the elections result of respondent no. 1-All India Carrom Federation (“AICF”). 2. Further, there is a prayer for direction to the respondent no. 1-AICF not to use the title ‘India’ or ‘Indian’. 3. During the course of arguments, attention of this Court has been drawn to the letter dated 17th December, 2024 issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, wherein, it is stated as follows: 4. Perusal of the aforesaid letter clearly shows that the Government of India has categorically stated in the aforesaid letter that Ministry has not recognized any federation for the sport of carrom. 5. This Court also takes note of the submission made by learned counsel appearing for Union of India (“UOI”) that the UOI does not recognize AICF as a National Sports Federation. Thus, as per the stand of UOI, the status of AICF is that of a private body. 6. This Court further notes the short affidavit filed on behalf of UOI, which is reproduced as under: “xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx” 7. Perusal of the aforesaid affidavit of UOI clearly shows that the recognition of AICF has not been renewed by the UOI primarily on the ground that the AICF was not following ‘one state one unit principle’ as envisaged under Clause 3.10 of Annexure II of National Sports Code. 8. This Court also takes note of the stand of UOI that as per Clause 3.6(ii) of the Sport Code, the expression ‘India’ or ‘Indian’ cannot be used without the prior approval of the Government of India. 9. Thus, since the AICF is an unrecognized federation, it cannot use the word/expression ‘India’ or ‘Indian’ in their title, logos, letterheads etc. 10. Considering the submissions made before this Court, it is manifest that AICF cannot be considered as a National Sports Federation as per the submission made on behalf of UOI, in the absence of renewal of recognition of the AICF. Therefore, it becomes apparent that the AICF is a private entity/body. 11. This Court also takes note of the submission made by learned counsel appearing for AICF that the said entity sends teams to various sporting events internationally, wherein, the teams represents the country. 12. This Court further takes note of the submission made by learned counsel appearing for AICF that with respect to the sport of carrom, it is only the AICF which sends teams to various parts of the world. 13. Accordingly, considering the fact that AICF is a private body as of now, in the absence of renewal of its recognition by the UOI, it is directed that AICF shall change its name in order to delete the word ‘India’ from its nomenclature. 14. Further, whenever any team is sent by the AICF, which shall be sent only with its changed/amended name, the said federation shall specify that the team is from India and shall not portray the team as the Indian Team, which is recognized by the Government of India. 15. Considering the fact that the AICF was earlier recognized by the UOI, liberty is granted to the said entity to make a representation to the UOI for the purposes of its recognition as a National Sport Federation. 16. In case such a representation is made by the said entity, i.e., AICF (with changed name for the time being), the said representation shall be duly considered by the UOI. The said Carrom Federation shall comply with all the directions as may be issued by UOI with regard to grant of recognition. 17. In case, the UOI is satisfied with the various compliances made by the said Carrom Federation, the UOI may proceed to grant recognition to the Carrom Federation, in accordance with law, and after following the due procedure. 18. Further, it is directed that the said Carrom Federation shall not use the expression ‘India’ or ‘Indian’ in any manner either in its name or any logo etc. or in the competitions conducted by them. 19. However, liberty is granted to the Carrom Federation to use the expression ‘Team from India’, in order to show that the representation is from the country India. 20. As regards the election of the Carrom Federation, this Court has not gone into the said issue on account of the categorical stand of UOI that the Carrom Federation is not a recognized National Sports Federation. 21. With the aforesaid directions, the present writ petitions, along with the pending applications, are accordingly disposed of. 22. The next date of 21st November, 2025 stands cancelled. MINI PUSHKARNA, J OCTOBER 29, 2025 Ak Page 1 of 10