Athlete holding foreign passport cannot represent India: Court

The Delhi High Court Tuesday held that people of Indian origin holding foreign passport cannot represent India in international sports events.

The Delhi High Court Tuesday held that people of Indian origin holding foreign passport cannot represent India in international sports events.

Justice S. Muralidhar said this while upholding the central government's policy of not allowing people of Indian origin holding foreign passport to represent the country in a sports event.

He observed that as long as the government does not recognise dual citizenship in all aspects, foreign passport holders should not be permitted to play for India in international events.

The court passed the order on petitions filed by two people of Indian origin - Karan Kumar, a Britain-based squash player, and Robert Blanchette, a sportsman based in the US -- challenging the government's policy not to allow them to play for India in international events.

"There is a justification in insisting that only Indian passport holders should represent India in an international sporting event. Those with foreign passports obviously owe their allegiance to the countries of which they hold passport," the court said while rejecting their plea.

"This court is of the view that the policy decision by the government restricting the right to represent India in international sporting events to Indian passport holders cannot be said to be arbitrary, irrational or unreasonable," the court said.

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