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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chandigarh administration to issue a sports gradation certificate (SGC) to Manraj Singh Chatha, a student who had been denied the certificate. Chatha, a member of the Chandigarh Rifle Association, participated in various sports competitions across the country. He approached the court after the UT sports department refused to issue the certificate because he had completed his Class 12 in a Mohali school.

Unjust denial overturned

Justices Sandeep Moudgil and Deepak Gupta ruled that denying Chatha the certificate was unjust and unfair. The court observed, "It would be unjust, unfair, arbitrary, and irrational to deny issuance of sports gradation certificate to the petitioner on the pretext that he was not a student from the schools/colleges recognised by the Chandigarh administration and situated in the Union Territory." The bench emphasized that Chatha was not seeking admission in any institution under Chandigarh's control but in Panjab University.

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Chatha wanted to apply for a five-year law degree at Panjab University under the sports quota. The UT sports department had argued that the certificate could not be issued since Chatha had not studied at a Chandigarh-recognized school or college for at least two years before applying. However, the court found no policy barring the issuance of an SGC to a sportsman who had represented Chandigarh but studied elsewhere.

Policy clarified

The court clarified that UT's policy provides reservations for admissions under the sports category in schools/colleges recognized by the administration and located in the city. However, Chatha's case was different as he was applying to Panjab University, which is not under the control of the Chandigarh administration. The court noted that UT's policy does not explicitly prevent issuing an SGC to someone in Chatha's situation.

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The ruling highlighted that Chatha had represented the Chandigarh Rifle Association at both state and national levels on multiple occasions, making him eligible for the SGC. The court's decision ensures that deserving sportspeople like Chatha can receive the necessary certificates, even if they studied outside the UT, provided they have represented Chandigarh in sports.