Review ban on Punjab lifter within a month, rules HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to take a decision within one month on an appeal filed by Commonwealth Games participant Meena Kumari against ban slapped on her by the sports body.

Kumari, who hails from Jalandhar in Punjab, had bagged fifth position in the 58-kg category at the international sports event that was held at Glasgow in 2014.

She was restrained from participating in any weightlifting competition for three years over allegations of misbehavior with fellow players and a coach. A disciplinary committee that looked into the complaint against Kumari found her guilty and a ban was slapped on the athlete.

Kumari told the court that she could not perform better in the Games as she was "misguided" by her coaches and had lodged a formal complaint regarding it in Glasgow. The weightlifter claimed that at the behest of a coach, who also hailed from Punjab, others complained against her of misbehaviour during the event, resulting in a ban on her. The executive committee of the federation dismissed the complaint filed by the athelete.

Taking up her petition, the single-judge bench of justice AG Masih directed the federation to review ban within one month. The court also asked the federation to take a decision within three months on the weightlifter's appeal against charges levelled on her.

The petitioner, who is employed with the Punjab police, said due to her pending appeal, she is neither being permitted to participate in any event nor she is getting any benefit of promotion from her employer.