HI meeting: Madras HC grants interim stay

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has granted an interim stay of the operation of the minutes of the meeting of Hockey India, New Delhi, dated January 11 this year, and the list of affiliated members in so far as it granted affiliation for the State of Tamil Nadu to Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu.

Justice K. Venkataraman granted the stay on a petition from the Tamil Nadu Hockey Association (TNHA), represented by its honorary secretary, K. Jothikumaran and Hockey Tamil Nadu (HTN).

The main prayer was to quash the records of the Indian Olympic Association, New Delhi, Hockey India and Tamil Nadu Olympic Association (TNOA), Chennai, which culminated in the minutes of the Hockey India meeting in January.

According to the petitioner, the TNHA was affiliated to Tamil Nadu Olympic Association since its inception in 1988. As on date, it was the only affiliated body in Tamil Nadu.

As per procedure, the TNHA had registered HTN as its successor-in-interest and automatically the HTN qualified for affiliation to Hockey India.

However, unfairly and improperly, Hockey India and TNOA did not recommend HTN and instead recommended Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, represented by N.R. Radhakrishnan and M. Renuka.

The entire decision process was unfair and improper and liable to be set aside, the petitioners said.

The matter has been posted for February 3. — Special Correspondent