Orissa HC Asks Govt To Include Boxing In Annual Talent Scouting Programme

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has asked the state government to take a decision on including boxing in the Annual Talent Scouting programme.

Hering a public interest petition (PIL) filed by Sudarsan Sahoo, a social worker and president of the Puri Boxing Academy, the court said the petitioner had sought to direct the government to provide basic requirements to the persons interested in boxing. Sahoo wanted the court to issue directions for filling up the vacant seats of ‘Boxing’ discipline in Sports Hostel and provide basic requirement to candidates intended in boxing.

The petitioner’s lawyer submitted that while the government was promoting all other sports, boxing was given a step-motherly treatment. He submitted that the government did not provide any training infrastructure for persons interested in the boxing nor included them in the Annual Talent Scouting programme.

“We are of the view that it is primarily the executive function to decide as to which sport is to be promoted depending upon the circumstances. This Court does not have judicially determinable parameters to decide as to which sport should the government promote,” the court said.

“However, we dispose of the petition with an observation that the government should consider the issues, which have been raised in the petition concerning inclusion of boxing in the Annual Talent Scouting programme,” the court announced.

The High Court asked the government to take a decision within three months of its order.