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Judgment
(per Hon’ble Sri Justice Challa Gunaranjan)
Petitioners are aggrieved by tentative priority list published by SAAP for the purpose of admission into MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2026–2027 (under the Sports and Games) category, whereby, 1st petitioner’s candidature was not considered under sport quota.
(a) 1stpetitioner is minor student and 2nd petitioner is his father. 1stpetitioner secured All India Rank of 410686 in NEET-UG 2026 examination. He is stated to have participated at the District, State, National and International levels in discipline of Softball. He participated in 47thSenior National Softball Championshipheld in West Bengal in 2025. Before that, 1stpetitioner is stated to have played 12thSenior InterDistrict Softball Championship 2025, for which, Softball Association of Andhra Pradesh issued participation certificate. Based on aforesaid certificates, 1stpetitioner applied for admission under sports category. However, he was shown at Serial No.80 in tentative listand certificates relied upon were not taken into consideration and no credence was given on the ground that State Association was not recognized by SAAP during the year 2025 when events were held. Even before that, he was also subjected to skill test.
It is stated that merely because State Association is not recognized, certificate of participation in national levels issued by All India Body cannot be ignored without giving any credence, which is unjustified.
(a) SAAP filed counter opposing writ petition inter alia pleading that Softball Association of Andhra Pradesh since was not recognized by SAAP for the year 2025, certificate of participation at National Level held in the year 2025 relied on by 1st petitioner was not considered for awarding priority which is in consonance with G.O.Rt.No.272, Youth Advancement Tourism & Culture (Sports & YS) Department, dated 19.09.2019.
It was further pleaded that in terms of G.O.Ms. No.11, dated 15.07.2008, participation at national level is required to be supported by participation at the immediate lower level, i.e., state level. Therefore, the petitioner's claim solely based on national-level participation cannot be considered in isolation in absence of proper backup certificate and recognition by state-level association. State Level Association is stated to have not applied for recognition for the year 2025, however, for the subsequent year 2026, it was granted. It was pleaded that, on account of inquiry ordered in relation to allegations that one of the candidates produced fake sports certificate issued by State Association for the purpose of claiming employment, based on the inquiry report and findings thereof, SAAP, by proceedings dated 20.01.2025, withdrew recognition granted for the year 2024, thus, the same was not renewed for 2025.
Heard Sri R.Yella Reddy, learned counsel, appearing for petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Medical and Health, Sri G.Sai Narayana Rao, learned standing counsel for SAAP and Smt.T.V.Sridevi, learned standing counsel for Dr.NTR University of Health Sciences, appearing for respondents.
(a) Learned counsel appearing for petitioners contended that even according to G.O.Ms.No.272, dated 19.09.2019, once elections are held and recognition is granted, the same would be valid for a period of three years. Since elections were held in the year 2022, recognition granted thereafter in that year would be valid till 2025.
It is further contended that withdrawal of recognition by proceedings dated 20.01.2025 was in relation to allegation in an isolated case, which has nothing to do with 1stpetitioner, thus, such an act cannot be put against 1stpetitioner to his prejudice. At any rate, since renewal was granted for the year 2026, merely because during the interregnum recognition was not in force would not invalidate certificates issued in favour of 1stpetitioner for consideration of appropriate priority.
In support of his submissions, reliance has been placed on judgment of coordinate bench of this Court in W.P. No.31326 of 2025 and W.P. No. 28438 of 2025.
G.O.Rt.No.272,dated19.09.2019,envisages implementation of National Sports Development Code - 2011 by State and District Sports Associations and obligates them to seek recognition from SAAP. It unequivocally specifies that State and District Sports Associations not recognized by SAAP would be ineligible and disqualified from issuing sports certificates for obtaining special benefits under sports quota for admission into educational institutions or employment.
Therefore, contention of petitioner that elections since were held for State Association in 2022, registration granted would continue for three years thereafter is misconceived. As rightly contended by learned counsel for petitioners, withdrawal of recognition by proceedings dated 20.01.2025 was completely unconnected with 1stpetitioner.
Be that as it may, admittedly, in the present case, 1stpetitioner was issued participation certificate at national level by Softball Association of India in 2025, supported by backup certificates at district-level championships. Softball Association of A.P. was initially recognized in 2019 and later got renewed up to 2024. Only for the year 2025, renewal was not granted in view of withdrawal of recognition pending inquiry,however, later recognition has been renewed for 2026.
Be that as it may, 1st petitioner also has certificate of participation in 8th Sub Junior Inter District Softball Champion Ship - 2022-23, 11th Senior Inter District Softball Championship – 2024-25 and 12th Senior Inter District Softball Championship – 2025-26, before participating in 47th Senior National Softball Championship – 2025. Certificate sought to be relied on for claiming priority since his participation at National event conducted by Apex Body in 2025 and not State Association, petitioner cannot be denied consideration of priority. Therefore, given these peculiar facts and circumstances, we are of the considered view that 1stpetitioner is entitled to be considered for his participation at national level for the year 2025.
We, therefore, direct SAAP to consider case of the petitioner under sports quota by taking into account certificate produced by him for 47th Senior National Softball Championship – 2025in the process of finalizing final seniority list. It is open for SAAP to verify genuineness of certificates produced by 1stpetitioner in the process of granting admission.
Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.
As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions pending consideration, if any, in this case shall stand closed.