Mumbai HC’s directive

MUMBAI: Hockey India has been directed by a two-member bench of the Mumbai High Court to consider affiliation for Mumbai Hockey Association within six weeks. The order issued on Thursday also directed HI not to hold elections till then.

Judges D.K. Deshmukh and A.R. Joshi, hearing a petition filed by MHA, directed HI to not only consider Mumbai’s affiliation but also of all Maharashtra units seeking the same facility.

Mumbai, Vidarbha and Maharashtra protested against HI’s directive to merge into one entity under the one State one unit rule. Mumbai had filed a petition in the Mumbai High Court seeking continuation of its identity as a separate unit.

As per the High Court order, Mumbai Hockey Association can approach the court for relief in case directive for affiliation as a separate unit is not considered within the time frame.

According to the petitioner’s advocate, Vijendra Jabra, the division bench of Justice Deshmukh and Justice Joshi disposed of the petition filed by Mumbai HA and directed HI to consider the applications for affiliation of all three units within six weeks.