A bench including Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi confirmed the Delhi High Court’s October 8 decision, which dismissed the PIL submitted by advocate Reepak Kansal.
“You just sit at home and draft petitions. What is the issue with any of this? Don’t overload the court. The absence of an exemplary cost has encouraged him to approach this court,” the bench remarked.
The plea contended that referring to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as “Team India” or the “Indian national cricket team” misguides the public and infringes on laws regulating the use of national symbols.
It argued that, as a private entity, the BCCI should not be addressed as “Team India,” especially without the government’s endorsement.
“This is just a waste of the court’s time and yours… What is this debate? Are you suggesting that the team does not represent India? The team that travels and competes globally is misrepresenting? Setting aside the BCCI, if Doordarshan or any other body labels it as Team India, isn’t it still Team India?” the bench questioned.
The petition asserted that the BCCI is a private organization and is not recognized as a National Sports Federation nor as a “public authority” under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.
It claimed that labeling the BCCI’s team as “Team India” constitutes misrepresentation and may breach the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, as well as the Flag Code of India, which governs the use of national designations, flags, and symbols.
