Aiming to resolve dispute, HI invites rival groups to the table
With the Rajasthan High Court stay out of the way, Hockey India are now trying to get a favourable decision from the Bombay High Court as well, in an attempt to expedite the election process. Hockey India, represented by secretary general Narinder Batra, has called for a meeting with all the rival factions in Maharashtra in Mumbai on Tuesday to resolve the affiliation issue. Four units in Maharashtra have staked their claims — the Mumbai Hockey Association, Vidarbha Hockey Association and two factions of the Maharashtra Hockey Association.
“This is the only hurdle in our way to holding elections. We will be meeting representatives from all the units and then take a decision,” Batra said.
“We cannot work with or even talk to overnight operators. We have asked for their records, minutes of meetings and their working for the last there years. If they manage to do so, we will work out a solution before taking a decision. But if they can’t, then there is no way we can talk to them,” Batra added.
Mumbai Hockey Association president Joaquim Carvalho said it was stupid of Hockey India to ask for such records in the first place. “They should know that we have been in existence for the past 75 years. If they want, we can show them the records for all these years. But we’ll meet them tomorrow,” Carvalho said.
Asked what he expected from the meeting, Carvalho said: “I would like to know, though, whether the same set of rules was followed for every other state association. In fact, can Hockey India produce records for the past three years? They have themselves not been in existence for three years.” he said.
The Bombay High Court had asked Hockey India to solve the factionalism within the various state bodies before holding elections. “After the meeting, we will most likely submit a report in the court within a week, and announce elections soon after the stay is vacated,” Batra said.