Implausible to say Kalaripayattu does not have national imprint: Delhi HC

On January 28, Yadav, studying physics at Hindu College and a medalist in Kalaripayattu at the earlier 37th National Games, moved the Delhi HC. Yadav, was seeking the court’s directions to IOA to reinstate Kalaripayattu as a competitive sport in the 38th National Games.

Yadav, speaking to the Indian Express says, “I have been practising Kalaripayattu since childhood. I wanted to learn a form of martial art, and my mother’s friend was a Malayali, and it was through her that I was introduced to Kalaripayattu. It is sad and heartbreaking that the verdict comes now after the games are over where we were hoping to win medals and compete. It is also true that we had very little time between the time we moved court and when the sport was scheduled at the Games.”

Kerala’s martial art form Kalaripayattu became a bone of contention ahead of the 38th edition of the National Games which commenced on January 28 in Uttarakhand.

The Indian Kalaripayattu Federation had accused the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) of “relegating” the martial art to the demonstration section of the event. In the 37th edition of the National Games, which was held in Goa in 2023, Kalaripayattu was part of the competition section. This year, the art form was included in the list of events for demonstration, dampening the medal hopes of around 200 Kalaripayattu athletes from 18 states who were planning to participate in the competition, the Federation had said.

Yadav, in her petition, said, that while the list of sports initially published by the IOA for the 38th National Games on December 2 had four demonstrative sports including Kalaripayattu, on December 12, 2024, the official website of the 38th National Games displayed two of the four sports – Yoga and Mallakhamb- elevated to competitive sports, while Kalaripayattu remained downgraded as a demonstrative sport.

In the 37th National Games, all three were in the category of ‘competitive’ sports.

On a representation to the IOA requesting for the inclusion of Kalaripayattu as a ‘competitive sport’, IOA had then passed orders on January 22, rejecting the request.

Yadav argued that “Kalaripayattu is not just a sport; it is a cultural heritage,” adding that “downgrading its status leads to a gradual erosion of the cultural practices and traditions associated with it.”

Adding that the decision was not preceded or followed by a reasoned order, Yadav highlighted that the downgrading had impacted several national and state-level athletes.

Justice Sachin Datta, in an order on February 3, recorded that the the only reason given in the said order by IOA for non-inclusion of Kalaripayattu as a competitive sport is that: the practice and organized competitions of Kalaripayattu are confined to specific regions of the country, primarily in Kerala and its neighbouring states, and that the sport does not enjoy widespread participation and lacks the geographical spread and depth of participation necessary for inclusion as a competitive sport in the National Games.

The IOA’s order went on to state that recognising the “cultural and historical significance of Kalaripayattu, the IOA has included the same as a demonstration event during the 38th National Games.”

Expressing dissatisfaction with IOA’s order, Justice Datta recorded, “This Court is not satisfied with the reasons disclosed by the IOA in the aforesaid order dated 22.01.2025. The said order does not deal with the fact that Kalaripayattu was included as a competitive event in the previous National Games (37th edition)….For the ongoing (38th National Games), there are participants from 18 states. As such, it is implausible to say that the sport does not have a broad national footprint or that it is geographically confined to only a specific portion of the country, as stated in the order passed by the IOA.”

Justice Datta observed that “there is no rationale disclosed” by IOA for the selective downgrade of Kalaripayattu. “Prima facie, this Court is inclined to accept the submission of learned counsel for the petitioner that the IOA has opted an arbitrary approach, and the order dated 22.01.2025 is not based on relevant considerations.”

The court has however recorded the IOA’s assurance that “for future events organized by IOA, including subsequent versions of the National Games, the IOA shall have due regard to the status of Kalaripayattu and give it the prominence and recognition which it deserves, and make an endeavour to include the same as a competitive sport.”

The assurance has however given little respite to Yadav. “It makes me anxious, because such assurances were also provided earlier to us earlier as well, and yet Kalaripayattu did not make it as a ‘competitive’ sport in the National Games this year.”