The Kerala High Court on Friday known as upon the State Government and the Kerala Sports Council (KSC) to offer help to a younger skilled handball participant, who had been injured through the Junior Girls National Handball Championship.

The younger handball participant, who belonged to a center class household, and suffere from a ligament tear, had approached the KSC for monetary assist, stating her grievance that her future as a handball participant could be jeopardized with out the identical.

Justice Devan Ramachandran was of the thought of opinion that the State authorities ought to offer mandatory help to the sports activities skilled, since a vibrant society requires not simply individuals in tutorial and repair pursuits, but in addition athletes and sportspersons inclucated with a strong sporting tradition.

“…a vibrant society cannot be comprised of merely persons in academic and service pursuits. It requires athletes and sportsmen to be inculcated with robust sporting culture, and this is possible, particularly to those belonging to the disadvantaged society, only if the Government and the community give them full support.
It is well known, deserving of judicial notice by this Court, that participation in most of the disciplines are extremely expensive, since many of the brilliant girls and boys may not be able to do unless they are assured the support of the community, and it is the imperative of times that this be done when the players from our State are faring better than ever before in National and even in International competitions,” the Court noticed.

The petitioner herself had submitted that regardless of a number of difficulties, her father had managed to provide her the perfect medical help doable, which was evidenced by medical certificates indicating that she had beforehand undergone a number of reconstruction surgical procedures on her ligament, however that he was now incapacitated from financing her additional therapy. She averred that her illustration earlier than the KSC in search of monetary assist has not introduced forth any response.

Advocate Praveen Ok.S. showing on behalf of the petitioner added that the latter’s illustration earlier than the Minister for Sports, additionally didn’t appear to evoke any response, and appeared to have been rejected.

It was submitted by Advocate Latha Anand on behalf of the KSC that whereas the Council didn’t have any objection in contemplating the petitioner’s request, as per the same old course, the Council solely supplies medical help to the gamers enrolled within the Academy run by them. The counsel thus expressed doubts as as to if the petitioner was additionally so enrolled within the Academy.

Government Pleader Sunil Kumar Kuriakose underscored the Government’s dedication to sportspersons, and said that if the petitioner have been to strategy a reliable hospital beneath their management for this goal, each help could be made accessible to her, to make sure that she would be capable to resume taking part in the game within the skilled entrance.

The Court on this gentle, directed the KSC to think about the petitioner’s illustration, and take a choice thereon after affording a possibility of listening to to the latter, inside a interval of two weeks.

The Court additionally granted liberty to the petitioner to strategy the Government Secretary with an acceptable software for medical necessities. It mandated the mentioned Authority to think about such requests submitted by the petitioner, and to make all mandatory preparations beneath the aegis of the competent hospitals – whether or not public or personal – in order to allow the petitioner to endure the mandatory medical procedures.

It additional directed the Secretary to offer all doable steady assist to the petitioner till she recovered from her current predicament.

“Our athletes are still the finest in the country. We need to give them good support so that they can shine at the international level,” the Court orally added, whereas disposing the plea.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Ker) 626

Case Title: Prajila M. v. State of Kerala & Ors.

Case Number: W.P.(C) No. 35952 OF 2023