Giving a boost to the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) led by KPS Gill, the Delhi high court on Tuesday ruled that it is the only recognised sports body in the country and that Hockey India (HI) is just a private body.
This is the second time in less than two months that the court has favoured the IHF, saying that the “cloud of suspension” over the organisation ought to be lifted for a proper enquiry into problems of Indian hockey.
Directing the government and the HI to issue a clarification to all the state sport units that it is a private body, Justice S Muralidhar said that Wednesday’s elections will be allowed only when the confusion regarding its status is cleared. “The election of July 28 would go on only when the clarification is made by the government and the HI,” the court said, adding, “If they don’t issue a clarification, the election will not go on.”
The court directive prompted the sports ministry to withdraw its observer SK Mendiratta from the elections. HI has since made the clarifications and the polls are ready to be held on Wednesday.
HI, which has the recognition of the international hockey federation (FIH), has to complete its election process by the world body stipulated deadline of July 31, failing which India would be barred from participating in international tournaments.
The high court, meanwhile, had earlier quashed the government’s notification for de-recognition of the IHF. During the proceedings, the court pulled up the Centre for not taking proper steps for removing confusion regarding the status of HI after its judgement.
“If the government has not recognised you (HI), then why is it allowing you to conduct elections? The government should not be involved in the election of a private body,” it said.
“A message should go to all the state units that there is only one recognised federation and that is the IHF,” the court said.
The high court had on May 21 set aside the Centre’s decision to derecognise the IHF and the Indian Olympic Association’s de-affiliation of the federation.
