Jinxed Hockey India elections deferred again

Hockey: Rajasthan HC stay order forces the association to make latest move

The office bearers of Hockey India met on Saturday for an emergency meeting and decided to put off the election till a final decision is taken by the Rajasthan High Court.

The election which has already been postponed a couple of times was to be held before February 28-March 13 Hockey World Cup here next month, but the latest legal development is bound to delay it further.

Hockey India referred the matter to the Returning Officer GS Mander along with copy of the said order and Minutes. The Returning Officer after taking legal advice has directed Hockey India to defer the elections till the final decision is taken by the Rajasthan High Court, because the entire electoral college of Hockey India has been stayed,” a HI statement said.

“Hockey India has received an order from the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Jaipur Bench, passed by Justice RS Chauhan. The Court has stayed the operation of the Minutes of the Meeting dated 11th January, 2010 in which 30 States / Union Territories and 4 Institutional / Boards were granted affiliation,” it added.
Earlier, incensed at HI’s move to ignore the 60-year-old Rajasthan Hockey Association and give affiliation to the newly formed ad-hoc body on January 10, RHA officials moved the court.

“HI has kept the (games world body) FIH, Sports Ministry, Government’s Election Observer (SK Mendiratta) and IOA Observer updated about the developments,” the statement said.

“The Judge vide order dated 22nd January, 2010 after hearing the Counsel for the Petitioner has issued notices in the Writ Petition to the respondents and directed that the rules to be made returnable within four weeks,” the statement added.
Earlier in the day, HI had kicked up another storm when Karnataka and Chandigarh’s names were dropped from the electoral list issued by the Sports Ministry. The ministry said while no name was received from Karnataka, there was a misrepresentation by Chandigarh. Confirming they had followed all the necessary protocol in sending their names on time to HI, Karnataka State Hockey Association secretary Krishnamurthy had said he and KSHA president RK Shetty would take up the issue with Mendiratta on Monday. “However, with the elections themselves being deferred now, we need to check with Mendiratta on whether the planned meeting in New Delhi is necessary,” said Krishnamurthy.