Boxer’s death: HC notice to govts, boxing bodies over safety rules

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has issued notices to the Centre, the state govt, their sports authorities, including boxing associations and others, in response to a petition filed by a woman whose 19-year-old son died during a boxing match at a state-level competition in Mehsana in Sep 2024.

In this case, a 19-year-old boxer from Surat, Karan Pipaliya, was declared brain-dead after a bout at the Gujarat State Boxing Championships for senior men and women in Mehsana. Pipaliya was competing in the 63.5kg weight category.

Pipaliya's mother, Ritaben, approached the HC through advocate Jugal Chauhan, alleging gross negligence in adhering to the mandatory safety and medical protocols prescribed under the International Boxing Association (IBA) Rules, 2023.

The petition stated that there was a complete absence of pre-bout medical examination of participants and a total lack of emergency medical infrastructure such as ambulance services, oxygen support and essential life-saving equipment. It further alleged that even after the deceased collapsed, no immediate medical assistance was provided, and ultimately, a private individual had to transport him in a personal vehicle to a hospital, resulting in a fatal delay in treatment.

The petitioner alleged that negligence in adhering to safety and medical protocols resulted in her son's death. The lawyer further submitted before the HC that the police did not investigate the case properly and recorded statements of players and authorities in a cyclostyled manner. No FIR was registered in the case.

Besides demanding strict implementation of medical protocols in accordance with rules during boxing matches, the petitioner sought a thorough probe into the incident by a special investigation team comprising experts in the field.

After a preliminary hearing, Justice H M Prachchhak sought replies from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG), the Boxing Federation of India, the Gujarat State Boxing Association and the office-bearers named in the petition. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 7.