The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to urgently frame suitable criteria for considering hearing-impaired sportspersons for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, 2025, observing that the existing norms discriminate against them compared to para-athletes.
Justice Sachin Datta, in an order passed on Monday, noted that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 leaves “no scope of discrimination between persons having hearing impairment vis-à-vis those having physical or locomotor disability.” He further said that the absence of opportunity for deaf athletes under the Scheme of Cash Awards for Medal Winners in International Sports Events effectively results in a discriminatory regime.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Virender Singh, an internationally renowned wrestler, multi-time Deaflympics gold medallist and Arjuna Awardee, along with another deaf sportsperson. Represented by advocate Ajay Verma, they alleged exclusion of deaf athletes from key government sports schemes and sought parity with para-athletes in eligibility for national honours.
After examining the current criteria, the court found that deaf sportspersons were not even eligible to apply for the Khel Ratna Award. It observed:
“In the above conspectus, there is merit in the contentions of the petitioner/applicant that the aforesaid criteria discriminate against deaf sportspersons vis-à-vis para sportspersons.”
Justice Datta directed the Centre to frame appropriate criteria without delay so that hearing-impaired athletes can apply for the 2025 Khel Ratna Award. The court also ordered that the application deadline, originally October 28, be extended suitably to allow their participation.
