SC allows HI to pick Azlan team

The Supreme Court on Friday gave green signal to Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to go ahead with the selection of the hockey team for Azlan Shah Cup tournament being held in Malaysia from May 5.

A bench of justices J M Panchal and H L Ghokhale also asked the Centre to clarify its stand and resolve the ongoing row between HI and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) within three weeks.

The Court said its earlier order passed on August 27 last year with regard to selection and participation of team would remain operational. In its order, the bench had allowed HI to select hockey teams for the Asian and Commonwealth Games and had given three more weeks to the Centre to resolve the dispute with regard to recognition.

However, the Centre, which had on March 4 assured the apex court that it would resolve within a week the tussle between IHF and HI for controlling Indian hockey, failed to come out with any proposal and sought further three weeks’ time.

The court had in an interim order rejected the government’s claim and allowed Hockey India (HI) and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to send a women’s team to participate in the World Cup in Argentina.

It was hearing the petition filed by Hockey India challenging the government’s decision revoking recognition to it for flouting guidelines relating to age and tenure of officials. The Sports Ministry had earlier contended that HI was a private body which could not be authorised to select the team representing India. The Delhi High Court, on May 21 last year, had restrained HI it from holding election for its office bearers. The SC had, however, later allowed it to conduct the election.