ALL INDIA PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION vs UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

Judgment text excerpt

$~J * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment pronounced on: 02.02.2026 + W.P.(C) 5736/2025 and CM APPLs.26168/2025, 31973/2025 ALL INDIA PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION ..... Petitioner Through: Mr. Dayan Krishnan, Sr. Advocate along with Mr. Gautam Narayan, Mr. Hemant Phalpher, Mr. R. A. Iyer, Ms. Disha Joshi and Mr. Sukrit Seth, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR. ..... Respondents Through: Mr. Jayant Mehta, Sr. Advocate along with Ms. Arunima Dwivedi, CGSC, Mr. Aakash Pathak, GP, Ms. Pinky Pawar, Mr. Sainyam Bhardwaj, Advocates and Mr. Mohd. Zeeshan, Consultant for UOI. Mr. Rajshekhar Rao, Sr. Advocate along with Mr. Ashish Verma, Mr. Saksham Thareja, Mr. Nikhil Thakur and Mr. Kartikey Bhargava, Advocates for R-2. Mr. D. N. Goburdhan, Sr. Advocate along with Mr. Kunal Kohli, Ms. Shreyha Kohli, Advocates for proposed Respondent no.3. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA JUDGMENT 1. The petitioner is an association incorporated on 12.12.2008 for the purpose of promoting and developing the sport of Pickleball. The petitioner claims entitlement to recognition as the National Sports Federation (NSF) Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:ROHIT W.P.(C) 5736/2025 Page 1 of 32 KUMAR PATEL Signing Date:03.02.2026 19:19:36 for the sport of Pickleball in India. 2. For this purpose, the petitioner submitted an application dated 18.10.2024 to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). However, instead of recognising the petitioner, the MYAS issued an order dated 25.04.2025 recognising the respondent no.2, i.e., the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), as the NSF for promotion and development of the sport of Pickleball in the country. The said order dated 25.04.2025 reads as under:- “No. 10-2/2025/SP-I Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Depa