July 27: Warning the government officials to keep away from the Hockey India (HI) elections as it is a private body, the Delhi high court on Tuesday ruled that the national sport has only one recognised body, that is, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).
Justice S. Murlidhar directed the government officials not to indulge in the elections of HI scheduled to be held on Wednesday as it does not enjoy government recognition. Pulling up the HI and the Government, the court directed both to issue a clarification in this regard and inform all the states that HI was a private body.
“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 the clarifiaction regarding its status was not issued to all the states by tommorrow, the election will have to be withheld.”
The court also asked the government to withdraw its observer appointed to monitor the HI election. Blaming the Government for its inaction, the court said, “It was the duty of the Government to make it clear that HI was a private body and it cannot participate in the elections.”
The HC said the IHF is the only recognised body in the country. It had earlier quashed the government’s notification for de-recognition of the sports body. During the proceedings, the court pulled up the central government for not taking proper steps for removing confusion regarding the status of HI after its judgement.
The court also said, it seems that the government allowed holding of elections but why is the government supporting the Hockey India. It would create further confusion. “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,” the court said, adding that a message should go to all the state units that there is only one recognised federation and that is the IHF.
The HC had on May 21 set aside the Centre’s decision to de-recognise the IHF and the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) de-affiliation of the Federation.