Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: The High Court has directed the authorities to permit the Canoeing and Kayaking Sports Star from Kashmir Bilquis Mir to attend the Canoe Sprint Olympic Qualifier event to be held in Japan in coming days.
Justice Sindhu Sharma while seeking objections to the plea filed by Bilquis directed the authorities to grant NOC and permit Mir to travel abroad for the event scheduled in Japan in the first instance.
The counsel representing the authorities submitted that she is facing investigation in FIR no.23/2023 under Section 5 (1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, regarding her appointment as Physical Education Teacher and such requires mandatory vigilance clearance by ACB before processing her case for a visit to foreign country.
The counsel further added that a complaint has also been filed against her. Further the form submitted by her on the online portal was not accepted as she has not submitted her property statement. The circular dated 21.02.2019 regarding grant of permission to visit outside the country on private affair provides that permission may be denied in the interest of security or individual facing investigation/ inquiry on serious charges or trying to evade apprehension by police authority.
The court with regard to FIR has been apprised that the same has already been challenged by her before this Court in a separate plea and the court has directed that investigation in the FIR will go on but respondent-authorities shall not present the challan without prior permission of this Court. “In addition to the same, it was also directed that in the event of arrest she be released on bail”.
The court has been informed that the only reason of her travel abroad is to participate in the Asian Canoe Sprint Olympic Qualifier to be held in Japan from April 14 to 21, 2024 on an invitation as it will only bolster and promote the sport of canoeing and kayaking and it is not the case of the respondents that there is any apprehension of her evading arrest. The petitioner also submits that she is working with the Department and is available for investigation and complaint.
“Keeping in view the fact that the event in Japan is going to be held on 14th April to 21st April, 2024, and the petitioner would lose all opportunities to participate in the same and this may even act as deterrent for appointment as Chief Line Finish Judge in future” court said and added “the participation of the petitioner in future International event would suffer and it may even have a deterrent effect with regard to such position being provided to the athletes in India”.
Petitioner-Mir, an international athlete and Coach in the Sport of Canoeing and Kayaking, has been selected by the Asian Canoe Confederation as a Chief Finish Line Judge in the event to be held in Japan from April 14th to April 21st, 2024.
She has also been selected as a Judge (ITO) for the Paralympic Games to be held in Paris, France, from August 28th to September 08th, 2024, and is nominated from Asia for 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris from 3rd September to 9th September, 2024, as a first ever Technical Officer from India.
The President, Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, requested on 21st February 2024, requested her employer (Department of Youth Services and Sports) to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to enable her participation in these competitions.
On 22nd March, 2024, the Association again requested the Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Jammu & Kashmir, to issue NOC for petitioner’s timely participation in the international event as it was a unique honour for the country to be a Jury Member in the Pre-Olympics.
In case the opportunity is denied to her, it might act as a deterrent for the future as it may result in loss of reliability in the International Forum for future selection. The contention of the petitioner is that the respondents, despite repeated requests, have not issued a No Objection Certificate/ permission to her to travel abroad to participate as a Judge in the Olympics in Japan.
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