Delhi HC displeased with targeting of Manika Batra by TTFI

Batra appealed against compulsory attendance rule at national coaching camp

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS The Delhi High Court on Friday expressed strong displeasure that star table tennis player Manika Batra was being allegedly targeted by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for dragging the sports body to the court by raising her grievances.

Justice Rekha Palli said the player cannot be targeted and if she was being targeted, then it was a "serious problem".

The high court was hearing a petition by Batra seeking quashing of rules mandating compulsory attendance at the National Coaching Camp for selection in international events.

It directed the TTFI to place before it the communications with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) regarding Batra who made a complaint against the national sports body.

The court’s order came after Batra, the country’s top-ranked women’s table tennis player claimed that she was being targeted by the national federation for raising her grievances in the court and now the international federation was also treating her like an accused.

The averment was vehemently denied by the counsel for TTFI.

The high court had on September 23 stayed the TTFI's rule mandating compulsory attendance at the National Coaching Camp for selection in international events and had asked the Centre to conduct an inquiry into Batra's complaint against the sports body.

On Friday, the court was informed by the Centre’s counsel Apoorv Kurup that the enquiry report was ready and the judge asked them to file it in a sealed cover before it.

“List the matter on November 15 on which date TTFI will place on record copy of all its correspondences with International TT Federation in respect of the petitioner after September 23, 2021,” the court said.

During the hearing, senior advocate Sachin Dutta, appearing for Batra, said the player has become the federation’s target and they are targeting her after the court’s stay order.

 “The international federation is treating me like an accused since the national federation must have written to them… I am unable to concentrate on practice for the championships,” her advocate argued.