‘Sheer waste of time’: Delhi High Court rejects plea against BCCI using ‘Team India’ name | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ruled in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to restrain the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from referring to its players as “the Indian cricket team”, dismissing the plea as a “pure waste” of judicial time.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela reprimanded the petitioner, advocate Reepak Kansal, who argued that since the BCCI is a private body and not a government-recognized sports federation, it has no authority to call its side ‘Team India’.The court was quick to reject this reasoning.“Are you saying that the team does not represent India? This team, which goes everywhere and represents India, you are saying that it does not represent India? Is it not the Indian team? If it is not the Indian team, please tell us why it is not the Indian team,” Justice Gedela asked sharply.
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Chief Justice Upadhyaya was equally strong, calling the petition a frivolous use of judicial time.“It’s a complete waste of field time and your own time. Tell us about a national team in any sport selected by government officials. Be it Commonwealth Games, Olympics, hockey, football or tennis, don’t they represent India?”The Kansal PIL has contended that the BCCI, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, is not a statutory body or a ‘State’ within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution. He further alleged that referring to the team as “India” or using the national flag violated the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Flag Code of India, 2002.However, the bench rejected these allegations, observing that the use of the national flag or name for the purpose of representation in sport does not constitute improper use.“If you want to display a flag in your house, are you prohibited from doing so? the court noted.The judges also noted that international sports bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) discourage government interference in sports administration.Ultimately, the court dismissed the PIL, reaffirming that the Indian cricket team – regardless of the BCCI’s private status – represents the nation in every sense of the word.
