SC examines if Overseas Citizens can represent India in sports

New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The Indian Supreme Court
Thursday decided to examine whether Overseas Citizens of India
(OCI) have any right to represent India in international
sporting events.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan while
posting the matter for hearing on April 19 observed that only
an Indian citizen can represent the country in international
competitions.
"You have to be an Indian to participate in such
events. Otherwise you have to give up your other citizenship,"
the Bench, which also included Justices Deepak Verma and B S
Chauhan, said when the petition was mentioned.
The petition was filed by the Centre challenging the
decision of Punjab and Haryana High Court which had held that
Overseas Citizens of India should be accorded the same status
as provided to Non Resident Indians (NRIs) for representing
India in international sports events.
The High Court had delivered its verdict on March 18
on the petition filed by American born shooter Shoharab Singh
Gill, who have been representing India.
When the Centre mentioned the appeal, senior advocate
Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Gill, said the shooter had been a
part of Indian contingent in the past but the government
policy was coming in way of his future participation in events
for the country.
During the brief hearing, the Bench said, "Why don't
you give up your US citizenship?".
It took an assurance from Gill's counsel that when the
High Court will hear the matter on Friday he will not press
the contempt petition against the Centre.
The High Court had directed the India's Sports
Ministry to allow Gill, a shot gun shooter, to represent the
country in international events as part of the Indian
contingent.
On the issue of High Court verdict according OCI the
same status as given to the NRIs, the Bench said "NRIs are
given so many benefits which is another thing. But to
represent India you have to be an Indian citizen".
Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, who mentioned the
appeal, said the issue involved in the matter was not for any
one case but it was the question of government policy.
He said the petition raises an important question of
law as to the scope and ambit of the rights of an Overseas
Citizen of India under various provisions of Citizenship Act.
Subramanium said the question is whether a person who
is not an Indian national, unlike NRI, can claim any right to
represent India in international sporting events contrary to
the stated policy of the Government issued through its
circulars on December 26, 2008 and March 12, 2009. PTI RKS
MRD