HC reserves judgement on PIL against Hockey India
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its judgement on a PIL filed by a coach alleging that Hockey India (HI) was threatening players against taking part in World Series Hockey (WSH), a joint initiative of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sport.
A bench headed by acting chief justice AK Sikri reserved its order after the counsel for Joachim Caravalho, a former player and coach, the Centre and the Hockey India concluded their arguments.
Counsel Jayant Bhushan, appearing for Caravalho, said HI was trying to prevent players from deriving monetary gains by participating in WSH as it was for the first time that such a tournament was being organized which offers money to participating players.
“They (HI) want to ruin the financial prospects of not just 11 or 24 players but the top 48 players of the country”, he said.
Bhushan alleged HI’s camp, which is to be held to prepare the players for the Olympics for a total of 71 days, was organized with the sole purpose of preventing them from participating in WSH.
He said it is illegal on the part of HI to threaten disqualification of those players participating in the tournament.
“The whole idea is to deliberately prevent them (players) from playing in WSH”, he added.
He also said HI intended to start its own league in 2013 and they wanted the players to wait till then.
Referring to the Supreme Court order in the matter related to the row between HI and IHF, Bhushan said “the apex court recognized you (HI) only to the extent of choosing players for the national team but it is not entitled to disqualifying players solely on the ground of participating in WSH.”
Advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for HI, opposed the PIL and justified the long training camp for the players on the ground that the hockey team has not been successful in previous Olympic games and it was necessary to win a medal in such events.
“Therefore, we cannot go by what one petitioner has to say against the preparatory camp”, Sethi added referring to the objection to the long training camp.
Nimbus Sports, which is organizing WSH with IHF, offered to reschedule their event to avoid any clash of dates and also to protect the interest of players but it also sought an assurance from HI that they would not organize any other programme which might coincide with the rescheduled event.
The counsel also added the regulation of HI. which were framed by it in March 2011, were “self serving”, to “suit their own convenience” as WSH was announced in December 2010 and HI was, therefore, fully aware of the event schedule.
WSH, an initiative of IHF and Nimbus Sport, is to be held between December 17, 2011, and January 22, 2012, with an aim to “reinvigorate hockey here and to make it a “sport of choice” for youngsters. On the lines of IPL, WSH would be played among eight franchisee-based teams.
The players have been asked by HI to report to the camp which coincides with the schedule of WSH.
The fight to control Indian Hockey dates back to 2008 when IHF, led by KPS Gill, was de-recognised and disaffiliated by the Centre and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) after its secretary K Jothikumaran was caught on camera in a sting operation accepting bribe to select a player.
HI came into being to replace IHF. However, the Delhi High Court later termed de-recognition of IHF as “illegal” and ordered its revival, a decision later challenged by HI in the apex court.
The Supreme Court, which asked the Centre to resolve the dispute between IHF and HI, however, had allowed the latter to select national teams for some upcoming tournaments.
In another twist to the row, the government later also derecognised HI following the controversial election of Vidya Stokes as its President.