HC declines to stay inquiry against Jwala Gutta

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to grant stay on ongoing inquiry proceedings by a committee set up by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) against ace shuttler Jwala Gutta for alleged indiscipline.

Gutta today approached the high court challenging the show cause notice issued to her by the committee on October 14 and also sought a stay on its proceedings against her. Justice V K Jain referred to his October 10 order and said no interim order is required as the court has already granted relief to her by asking BAI to allow her to participate in the national and international tournament. Allowing the committee to go ahead with its proceedings, Justice Jain said, "If she is aggrieved of any decision of the committee, she can approach this very court." However, the court granted her two weeks time to respond to the committee`s show cause notice. Following a disciplinary committee`s recommendation for life ban on Gutta on charges of indiscipline, a three-member committee was constituted earlier this month to evaluate the report and the committee was to submit its report within a month. Appearing for Gutta, advocate Gopal Jain submitted that the court should grant a stay on the composition of this newly-constituted committee and it should not take any final decision against her till the final disposal of her plea in this court. The court had on October 10 stayed the BAI`s decision not allowing her to take part in any international tournament in or outside the country in view of the disciplinary committee`s recommendation for life ban on her. The court had allowed Gutta`s plea against BAI`s October 7 order and had directed the association to allow her to participate in the Denmark Open Tournament which held from October 15 to 20. Another badminton tournament in which Gutta had participated is the French Open which is going on from October 22 to 27. The BAI`s disciplinary committee has recommended a life ban on Gutta for allegedly trying to stop some players of her franchise Krrish Delhi Smashers from playing a match against Banga Beats in the Indian Badminton League in August. Gutta had approached the high court challenging the decision of BAI to recommend a life ban on her for alleged indiscipline in the IBL saying, "The order has been issued in violation of settled principles of natural justice and fairness without giving her a hearing." A controversy had erupted during the August 25 tie when Delhi Smashers had allegedly threatened to pull out against Banga Beats over the last-minute replacement of injured singles player Hu Yun of Hong Kong with Denmark`s Jan Jorgense. BAI`s disciplinary committee had earlier this month recommended a life-ban on Gutta, India`s leading doubles players who has won a world championship bronze and Commonwealth Games gold medal partnering Ashwini Ponappa.