SC allows HI and IOA to send team for World Cup in Argentina
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to send women’s team to participate in the World Cup in Argentina beginning on August 26.
The apex court noted that the players who have been selected for participation in the World Cup by the HI and the IOA are the same as identified and selected by the government’s Sports Authority of India.
A Bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and H L Gokhale made it clear that this was a temporary arrangement as the team has to be sent to Argentina by August 21 for country’s participation in the sporting event.
The court passed the order after HI placed before it a communication by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) which said that it only recognises HI to represent Indian team in international event.
Webb Roger, the acting Director General of FIH, in the communication had made it clear that HI can only send a team to participate in the World Championship.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports Affair failed to produce written communication to buttress that the FIH recognised it to send the team for world cup.
The order was passed by the apex court on the petition moved by the Hockey India challenging the government decision revoking recognition to it for allegedly flouting guidelines relating to age and tenure of officials.
The Ministry had contended that since HI was a ‘private body’ it could not be authorised to select the team for representing India in the world champion cup.
HI submitted before the court that uncertainty is prevailing on the participation of Indian Women’s hockey team in world championship following the withdrawal of recognition to it by the government.
The Ministry had claimed that it was recognised by the FIH to send the team for the women’s world cup.
IOA submitted that the Ministry was presenting a factually wrong picture and asked the Bench to consider HI for sending the team as it was recognised by the FIH.
It said that if a decision was not taken urgently, it would be a national shame as Indian women team which has qualified in last 12 after eight years would be deprived to participate in the world cup.
The HI has also sought revocation of a letter written by government to the International Hockey Federation about its decision that HI is not a recognised body.
The letter written by the government to the IHF on August 9 had said “Hockey India has lost the national character”.
The government had derecognised the HI on the ground that it is a private body which cannot represent the Indian team.
The court wanted to know from the government counsel as to how HI was different from the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).
The Indian Hockey Federation also intervened in the matter and submitted that it is a recognised body for sending Indian team to take part in international events, but the plea was opposed by the HI.
HI has consistently been maintaining that it is the only recognised body for India by the International Hockey Federation.
The Delhi High Court had on May 21 held that the HI was a private body and restrained it from holding election for its office bearers. However, the apex court had later allowed the conduct of election.