HC reserves orders on plea from Rifle Association

Chennai, Nov 27 (UNI) Madras High Court today reserved orders on a petition seeking a direction to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to conduct the National Clay Target Shooting Championship in Chennai.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice P K Misra and Mr Justice J A K Sampathkumar reserved orders on a petition filed by advocate R Kaaruppan, who also sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu Sports Ministry to nominate a Tamil Nadu State Team for all the three events to take part in the National Shooting Championship and give coaching and sponsor their participation in the nationals.

He also sought a direction to throw open the Chennai Rifle Club Shooting Range for shooters to practice for taking part in the nationals and allow collection of reasonable charges to be fixed by the court.

In his petition, Kaaruppan submitted that NRAI had decided to conduct the National Clay Target Shooting in Chennai for 2006. Last time it was held here in 1998. On enquiry it was revealed that the event had been shifted to Delhi. The reason attributed was that Veerapuram Range had not been completed. In that case even if the competition could not be postponed it ought to have been held at the Chennai Rifle Club ranges at Alamathi. Time and again conducting the championship in Delhi resulted in denial of equal opportunity to shooters from other states. It gave rise to a feeling of monopoly in the minds of the Delhi Shooters. It had become a popular feeling shooters were from the North and cheerleaders were from the South.

The shooters from Tamil Nadu were not allowed to shoot in the home grounds even once in eight years, he contended.

UNI XR AA PDS RN2023