Plea in Gujarat High Court seeks accountability for young boxer’s death

The mother of a 19-year-old boxer who died during a State-level competition has moved a plea before the Gujarat High Court seeking accountability for the death of her son [Ritaben Bharatkumar Pipaliya v Union of India and Ors.].

Justice Hemant M Prachchhak on May 6 sought replies from the government of India, the Sports Authority of India, the Boxing Federation of India, the State and other authorities.

The matter concerns death of Karan Pipaliya, a 19-year-old boxer who sustained severe head injuries during a bout at the State Level Boxing Championship held on September 21, 2024, at the Sardar Patel Sports Complex in Mehsana.

He died of his injuries on September 24, 2024, allegedly due to gross negligence and lack of medical facilities at the event.

The matter will be heard next on July 7, 2026.

The petition has highlighted that there were glaring violations of mandatory safety protocols during the boxing match.

The plea stated that there had been no pre-bout medical examination of participants and a complete absence of emergency medical infrastructure, including ambulance services, oxygen support, and essential life-saving equipment. It further claimed that even after Pipaliya collapsed, no immediate medical assistance was provided and he had to be taken to a hospital in a private vehicle, resulting in a fatal delay in treatment.

The plea asserted that medical evidence, including CT scan findings, establishes that the death was caused by intracranial hemorrhage due to repeated blunt force trauma sustained during the bout.

“There exists a clear and direct nexus between the gross negligence of the organizers and the death of the deceased,” contended the petition.

Despite multiple representations to authorities, including the police and the Sports Authority of Gujarat, no first information report (FIR) has been registered and the case has been treated as an accidental death, the plea added.

“The said representation has remained completely unattended and undecided till date. No inquiry has been initiated, no action has been taken, and not even a response has been furnished to the Petitioner.”

The petition further underscored that the issue transcends an individual grievance, raising broader concerns about athlete safety and regulatory accountability.

Advocate Jugal Bharat Chauhan appeared for Ritaben Bharatkumar Pipaliya (petitioner).

Advocate Pradip D Bhate represented the Union of India.

[Read Order]