Karnataka HC Orders State Govt To Pay ₹10 lakh Compensation To Blr Chess Player

Sanjana Raghunath, an international chess player

The Karnataka High Court has recently ordered the state government to pay ₹10 lakh in compensation to Sanjana Raghunath, an international chess player, after she was unjustly denied an MBBS seat under the sports quota despite being eligible.

Sanjana, a Bengaluru resident and participant in the 2018 Asia Youth Chess Championship, was incorrectly categorized as P-5 instead of the rightful P-1 under the sports quota, violating established rules, her legal counsel argued.

The division bench, led by Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Arvind, confirmed that this misclassification contravened the regulations governing the sports quota.

Sanjana, who has represented India in numerous national and international chess tournaments—including winning a gold medal at a FIDE Chess Championship—filed a petition after her seat was denied.

The court found that a June 2023 circular from the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which placed her in the P-5 category, contradicted the rules established in 2009.

Consequently, the court noted that Sanjana was forced to pay approximately ₹11 lakh for a seat in a private medical college under the management quota, justifying the compensation award.

The court mandated that the state government pay ₹10 lakh within 6 weeks to address her loss of opportunity. It acknowledged that Sanjana could not gain admission in the same academic year or in future years under the government quota, warranting compensation for her financial and career setbacks.

During the proceedings, Sanjana’s legal team emphasized her qualifications for the P-1 category, highlighting her achievements and merit. They contended that the KEA’s objections had unjustly downgraded her, depriving her of a sports quota seat.

The court upheld this position, invalidating the June 2023 circular for violating the 2009 rules on sports quota classification.

Sanjana’s chess career includes participation in several prestigious tournaments, such as the 32nd Under-13 National Girls Chess Championship and the Commonwealth Chess Championship, as noted by her counsel.