New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Aug 3 upheld the sports ministry's policy of debarring Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) from representing India in international sporting events.

"A uniform policy had to be adopted on the question of permitting PIOs and OCIs to represent India in international sporting events... mere fact that it would adversely affect some persons doesn't make a uniform policy that is based on rational criteria, arbitrary or unreasonable," Justice S Muralidhar noted while dismissing a batch of writ petitions.

Reasoning that OICs and PIOs owe their allegiance to their adopted countries, HC added that as long as government does not recognise dual citizenship in all aspects, foreign passport holders can't be permitted to play for India in international events.

"There is a justification in insisting that only Indian passport holders should represent India in an international sporting event. Those with foreign passports obviously owe their allegiance to the countries of which they hold passports," the court said while rejecting the plea of one Karm Kumar and Robert Blanchette. Both had approached HC seeking its direction to be allowed to represent India in sports events.

While Kumar, a squash player holding a UK passport, had challenged the policy on the ground that it was plain discrimination, US-based Blanchette also sought abolition of the government's policy not to allow them to play for India in international events. Kumar was barred from participating in the National Squash Championship and sought HC's intervention in seeking a uniform sports policy that doesn't discriminate between Indian nationals.