Mumbai HA petition hearing tomorrow

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Hockey Association writ petition will come up for hearing at the Mumbai High Court on Wednesday, January 27, 2010.

According to advoate Rakesh Kumar, the petition asks Hockey India for a decision on granting affiliation to Mumbai HA within a specific time frame.

“The prayer before the honourable High Court is specific. Wehave not sought injunction over any other issue,” he said during amedia briefing on Monday.

MHA had written to HI 10 months ago seeking affiliation as a separate entity, then took the legal route in the absence of any communication from the latter.

Mumbai, Vidharbha and Maharashtra were separate entities in the previous governing body, the Indian Hockey Federation. HI announced affiliation for only Maharashtra Hockey Association under the ‘one State, one unit’ directive.

Mumbai HA managing committee member, Joaquim Carvalho, said: “MHA is celebrating the 75th year of existence, it is a democratically-run body and wants to be part of Hockey India’s election process.”

The former Olympian and World Cupper expressed happiness at Union Sports Minister M S Gill’s statement about a transparent affiliation procedure which takes into consideration democratically-elected hockey bodies existing for many years.

Carvalho revealed getting a call from Indian Olympic Associationpresident, Suresh Kalmadi, the day after news of Mumbai filing a writ petition appeared in newspapers.

“Mr Kalmadi was in Pune then to meet the striking Indian players. He asked me about Mumbai Hockey Association’s legal move and informed me that a decision about Mumbai’s affiliation will be taken up at the AGM after a newly-elected body is in place.

“I told him about Mumbai’s desire to be part of the HI election process and assured him that the petition before Mumbai High Court will be withdrawn as soon as affiliation is granted.”

Mumbai hockey secretary Gurbux Singh Grewal, president Manga Singh Bakshi, vice-president P S Sujlana and advocate Jitendra Jabra were also present at the media briefing.