4 days ago
Karnataka High Court Denies Surfer Ramesh Budihal Asian Games Relief
Ramesh Budihal wanted to compete for India in surfing at the Asian Games.
The Surfing Federation of India chose Sivaraj Babu instead and listed Budihal as the first reserve.
Budihal asked the Karnataka High Court to cancel that decision.
The judge said the federation did not follow the law properly.
However, the court did not change the list because the games were approaching and the names had already been submitted.
A selection committee had split evenly between Budihal and Babu.
The court has ordered an investigation into how the selection was handled.
Former Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran must submit the investigation report by February 2027.
The Karnataka High Court refused to overturn Ramesh Budihal’s reserve selection for the men’s surfing event at the Asian Games in Japan.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj said the Surfing Federation of India’s June 23 selection decision was legally flawed.
The court said the federation’s executive council lacked authority to select India’s Asian Games surfers, but declined to change the submitted athlete list.
Sivaraj Babu was selected, while Budihal was named the first reserve after a special selection committee deadlocked over evaluation methods.
The court appointed former Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran to investigate the selection process, with a report due by February 2027.
- Who
- Ramesh Budihal, Sivaraj Babu, the Surfing Federation of India, and the Karnataka High Court.
- What
- The court refused to overturn Sivaraj Babu’s selection and Budihal’s placement as first reserve, while ordering an inquiry into the selection process.
- Where
- The Asian Games were scheduled to take place in Japan; the inquiry will be conducted in Bengaluru.
- When
- The disputed selection decision was made on June 23; the Asian Games were scheduled to begin on September 19, and the inquiry report is due by February 2027.
- Why
- The court found legal flaws in the selection process but said the submitted athlete list could not be changed at that stage.
Budihal’s Position
Federation and Selection Position
Merit and selection basis
Budihal’s Position
Budihal argued that he was India’s only medal winner at the 2025 Asian Surfing Championship and that no reason was given for excluding him.
Federation and Selection Position
The Surfing Federation of India relied on athletes’ past performances after the special selection committee deadlocked over its evaluation method.
How to resolve the tie
Budihal’s Position
Budihal’s counsel rejected a proposed surf-off, saying the federation’s policy allowed selection based on past performance or a coin toss, not that option.
Federation and Selection Position
The federation’s counsel suggested holding a surf-off between Babu and Budihal to choose the athlete.
Changing the submitted list
Budihal’s Position
Budihal sought cancellation of the selection decision, a new selection committee, and changes to the list sent to the Indian Olympic Association.
Federation and Selection Position
The Indian Olympic Association said the names had already been uploaded to the Olympic Council of Asia portal and could not be changed.
Key facts
- Selected surfer
- Sivaraj Babu was selected for the men’s surfing event.
- Petitioner
- Ramesh Budihal, 25, challenged the selection.
- Budihal’s status
- He was named the first reserve.
- Selection committee
- The four-member committee split equally between Budihal and Babu.
- Court finding
- Justice Suraj Govindaraj said the June 23 decision was vitiated by illegality.
- Inquiry head
- Former Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran will lead the one-man inquiry.
- Report deadline
- The inquiry report must be submitted by February 2027.
Quotes
Justice Suraj Govindaraj
Karnataka High Court judge who delivered the ruling
“This court places on record its disapproval of the manner in which SFI conducted the fresh selection process and makes it clear that SFI as a public institution discharging public duty is required to act strictly in accordance with law and its own selection policy and shall not allow recurrence of this infirmity.”
indianexpress.com
“Participating in Asian Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and if denied to him, then years of hard work done by him will go in vain.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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