New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the position of the Center and Prasar Bharti on a petition seeking broadcast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on June 11.
Advocate Avdesh Berwa has sought directions from the central government to acquire the broadcast rights of the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in favor of Prasar Bharti as an interim measure. As a final relief, the petitioner prayed for the rights to all 104 matches.
Justice Puruchindra Kumar Kaurav issued notice on the petition and referred it for hearing on May 20.
“Issue notice. Let him receive instructions. Let the matter come up next week,” the judge said.
During the hearing, the court asked the petitioner why his confession should not be considered a public interest lawsuit.
The senior lawyer representing the petitioner said that the citizen has the right to access such television broadcasts. He added that although this right is not absolute or indefensible, a “push” from the court “will go a long way.”
The FIFA World Cup, which is held every four years, is one of the most watched sporting events in the world and historically, the event has had a commercial broadcaster in India for every edition since 1998, the petitioner said in the petition.
However, the petition contended that no broadcaster has acquired the broadcast rights for the tournament in India this year, depriving him of his fundamental right to receive information and access the telecast of the event.
“The matter is of utmost urgency as the 2026 World Cup will commence on June 11, 2026 and the inaugural match, which itself is an event of national importance as per the notification dated May 9, 2022, is scheduled to be held on that date. Without timely judicial intervention by this Hon’ble Court, the petitioner and millions of Indian citizens will be irreparably deprived of their fundamental rights without an appropriate alternative remedy,” the petition said.
“The inaction of the respondents has resulted in the infringement of the freedom of speech and expression of the petitioner under Article 19 of the Constitution by restricting the viewing/telecast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He added: “It is important to note that by denying access to the information in question or failing to take the necessary steps to broadcast the FIFA World Cup, the respondents have directly violated the petitioner’s fundamental right to obtain and receive information, which is an integral part of freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution.”
The FIFA World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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