NEW DELHI, Sept 10:The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court order concerning international water-sports coach Bilquis Mir and directed the J&K administration to issue her No Objection Certificate (NOC) and relieving order by September 15, clearing the way for her to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team as chief coach.
Mir, a Physical Education Teacher in the J&K Youth Services Department, is scheduled to assist the Indian national team at the Asian Games in Japan, beginning September 19.
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi allowed the appeal filed by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association against the High Court’s August 11 judgment. The apex court also quashed the J&K Government order dated June 19, 2026, which had denied Mir permission, citing pending departmental inquiries and service conditions.
The Supreme Court stressed that sports assignments are time-sensitive, observing that selection, training camps, qualifying events and international competitions operate according to fixed schedules and cannot be delayed indefinitely due to ordinary administrative procedures.
The court further held that although a government employee may not have an absolute right to receive favourable administrative permission, they have a right to fair, reasonable, non-arbitrary and timely consideration of their request.
Under the court’s directions, the J&K administration has been asked to issue all necessary permissions by September 15 to enable Mir to join the national coaching camp and accompany the team to the Asian Games.
The court also directed that the period of her absence for the national sporting assignment would not be treated as unauthorised absence.
However, the apex court clarified that its judgment does not create a general right for government employees to seek deputation or foreign travel, nor does it prevent the J&K administration from continuing disciplinary proceedings against Mir in accordance with law.
The 16-page judgment also highlighted the consequences of administrative delays in time-sensitive matters, noting that a decision taken after the relevant opportunity has passed may fail to provide effective relief.
Mir had been selected by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association in February 2026 to prepare the national team. According to the report, procedural delays had earlier resulted in her missing an international assignment as Chief Finish Line Judge at the World Cup in Hungary in May.
The Supreme Court said sending the matter back to the authorities at this stage would amount to denial of effective relief and therefore granted direct relief to facilitate her participation in the upcoming Asian Games.
The court, however, left intact the High Court’s direction asking the Centre to formulate an enforceable statutory framework for government employees who are outstanding sportspersons or coaches.
The apex court also criticised the Union Territory administration for issuing the June 19 rejection order while an interim judicial direction passed on May 6 in Mir’s favour was still operative, observing that an executive authority cannot render an operative court direction ineffective through an inconsistent administrative decision. (PTI)