Hockey India has to consider MHA application, rules Bombay HC

In yet another setback to Hockey India, the Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday directed it to consider applications seeking affiliation made by the hockey associations of Mumbai, Vidarbha and Maharashtra before conducting its elections.

Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) advocate Rakesh Kumar said HI will have to consider their application for affiliation in six weeks. Affiliation will entitle these associations to voting rights in HI’s elections.

The MHA had sought a court direction to the HI granting them affiliation. The MHA was aggrieved by the meeting for affiliation held by HI on November 30 last year without taking into account a letter written by them in July 2009 requesting affiliation.

Kumar had argued that MHA was the oldest association and a founding member of Indian Hockey Federation and had hosted the hosted the fifth World Cup in 1981-82.

Justice DK Deshmukh and justice AR Joshi ruled that HI cannot proceed with its elections without considering granting affiliation to MHA.

The latest development came after the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA) on Wednesday disaffiliated MHA headed by Victor Ellis, saying it had received written complaints against it.
According to MOA secretary Babasaheb Landge, the affiliation to MHA was given on a temporary basis and its executive committee on Wednesday decided to withdraw the recognition after it had received complaints from other stakeholders in the state, including Mumbai and Vidarba Hockey Associations.

All the three units were members of the suspended Indian Hockey Federation, the forerunner of Hockey India.
—With inputs from Mihir Vasavda