HI moves SC over derecognition

Legal Correspondent

Hockey India has challenged withdrawal of government recognition to it in the Supreme Court. The petition was listed today as a mentioning matter for preliminary hearing, but it could not be taken up as Justice AK Patnaik recused (withdrew) himself from hearing the case without assigning any reason. The Bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir said the petition would be placed before another Bench tomorrow.

The government recently derecognised Hockey India and accorded recognition to the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) headed by former Punjab Police chief KPS Gill. It has also written to the International Hockey Federation not to have any dealings with the HI, as it no longer enjoyed government recognition. Hockey India is the only hockey body, which is a member of the International Hockey Federation at present.

On July 30 this year, the apex court had allowed Hockey India to hold elections to have a new executive body by staying the verdicts of the Delhi and Bombay High Courts. Both high courts had restrained Hockey India from going ahead with the elections.