HC slams Sports Ministry

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed the election of Hockey India (HI) while expressing its displeasure over the “confusion” created by the Sports Ministry’s move in recognising two national bodies. Spanned over the day, Justice S Muralidhar was constrained to hear the matter thrice as the flip-flop by the ministry continued.
The court drama as it unfolded:

10.30 am: The counsel for the ministry submitted the clarification sent to all the state bodies. Significantly, the letter, which had to state that HI was a private body and IHF remained the only sport federation recognised by the government, had to be issued as a mandatory condition if the HI election had to go on as scheduled on Wednesday. The judge took an umbrage at the clarification and asked the counsel to call to the court the official responsible for drafting the letter.

12.30 pm: Joint Secretary (Sports) Injeti Srinivas appeared before the court and refused to accept what his own counsel stated a day before regrading recognition of the HI. He said that his counsel had not informed him about the orders till very late. Infuriated, Justice Muralidhar said that it was “intriguing” that only the government did not know about the orders while the media knew about it. Justice Muralidhar then asked the officer to issue an amended clarification unequivocally mentioning that IHF was the only recognised body. To this, Srinivas expressed his reluctance. “If the Government of India is refusing to obey the court’s orders, we know how to deal with it. This is total defiance and must you remember, disobedience of court is punishable. If you don’t do it, HI election is not going to be conducted,” shot back Justice Muralidhar. Srinivas then sought some time to consult senior officials in the ministry regarding the possibility of a new clarification.

3 pm: Srinivas showed up again and contended that the ministry was not inclined to issue any other clarification. Justice Muralidhar then dictated his order. “It is legally untenable that there are two bodies for promoting hockey in India. There can also be no doubt that the ministry’s letter is not consistent with what was undertaken by them in the court on Tuesday. Moreover, they have not explained as to why HI did not figure in the list of 38 NSFs that was submitted before the Chief Justice in a different matter,” the court noted.