Rajasthan High Court stays formation of ad-hoc hockey body
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court on Friday granted a stay on the formation of an ad-hoc hockey body in the state which has been given affiliation by Hockey India for its February 7 election.
Ignoring the 60-year old Rajasthan Hockey Association (RHA), Hockey India had given affiliation to the newly formed ad-hoc body on January 10.
Incensed at the move of the interim body, the officials of the Rajasthan Hockey Association moved the court and sought a stay on the formation and affiliation of the new body.
The Rajasthan Olympic Association (ROA) had also disaffiliated RHA and that matter is also in litigation.
The RHA headed by former MLA Rajkumar Jaipal pleaded to the court that there Association is in existence for the last 60 years, managing the affairs of the game in the state and also has the sanctity under the Sports Act.
The Lawyer of the RHA Anil Mehta pleaded that the Hockey India had no right to disband the RHA and grant affiliation to an ad-hoc body.
The single bench consisting of Justice RS Chouhan of the Rajasthan High Court Jaipur granted the stay.
The RHA President was happy with the court’s decision and said it will have a bearing on the Hockey India elections.
“They (Hockey India) kept us in dark and even called us in meetings but all of a sudden it constituted an ad hoc body and granted affiliation which was unfair,” a fuming Jaipal said.
“Right from its formation, it (HI) is working in unfair manner. It incorporated new people in the ad-hoc body. How many other bodies can use the name of Rajasthan other than the legal Hockey Association under the Sports Act.
“This is unfair so I am happy that the court recognized it though we still do not have the detailed copy of the decision. But it would also have bearings on elections of Hockey India,” Jaipal added.