The Delhi High Court has issued a notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the free-to-air broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in India. The bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula directed the central government and the sports ministry to respond to the plea. The petitioner, Rakesh Malhotra, argued that the World Cup is a mega sporting event and should be accessible to all Indians without subscription fees. The plea highlights that previous FIFA World Cups were broadcast on Doordarshan, ensuring wide reach. The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 2025. The respondent authorities have been asked to file their replies within four weeks. The case underscores the debate between private broadcasters' rights and public access to major sporting events.
