Allahabad HC asks Gorakhpur University to provide sports quota for LLM course, cites recent success in Tokyo Olympics

Read Order: Juhi Dubey vs. State of U.P & 3 Ors.

LE Staff

Prayagraj, August 13, 2021: The Allahabad High Court has directed the Registrar, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, to take a decision to provide sports quota for LL.M. Course also in addition to the LL.B. course, in support of sportspersons who could in the future win laurels for the country. 

The High Court in its order mentioned the successes of Indian sportspersons in the international arena, such as the recently concluded Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan and the Indian Women’s Cricket Team’s successful performances. 

The order came against a petition challenging denial of benefit of sports quota for admission in the Post Graduate Course in Law on the ground that no such quota is provided for said course.

A Single Bench of Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery observed that it is expected from that University that such bright sportspersons should be given benefit of sports quota even in Post Graduate Course of LL.M.

Petitioner, a girl, is a University and State Level Cricketer, and was the beneficiary of sports quota in LL.B. Course which she had successfully passed in the year 2020. Since she was not granted benefit of sports quota for admission in LL.M., she approached the High Court. 

The counsel for the University submitted that quota is provided faculty-wise and entire quota of two seats is for LL.B. Course. He, however, accepted that an appropriate decision can be taken at the University level regarding sports quota in LL.M. Course also. 

Justice Shamshery noted that “people of this country are welcoming the sports persons who have participated and come victorious from Olympic-2020, which has recently concluded in Tokyo”.

“Union of India has initiated a Khelo India Programme which has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass root level by building strong frame work for sports played in the country and to establish India as a grate sporting nation,” observed Justice Shamshery. 

The High Court reiterated that State as well as Union Governments are also helping the upcoming sports persons and it is hoped that even in upcoming international sports events including cricket, the country will get more medals, awards and trophies.

Therefore, considering that sportspersons of this country are doing very well even in international level, the High Court passed a direction to the University to decide on providing sports quota for LL.M Course.