The Tribune: Gurbaj takes Hockey India to court

By Sabi Hussain
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 30

Suspended India mid-fielder Gurbaj Singh has dragged Hockey India (HI) into court after its four-member disciplinary committee decided to continue his nine-month ban on charges of “misbehaviour” and “groupism” in the team.

The Punjab player filed a ‘civil writ petition’ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday against HI president Narinder Batra, HI secretary general Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, disciplinary committee members – Batra, HI CEO Elena Norman, Olympians Harbinder Singh and R P Singh – and former assistant coach Jude Felix.

The court issued notices to HI and the other concerned parties and set October 6 as the next date of hearing. The court has asked HI’s disciplinary committee to reply to the notices till Tuesday, explaining on what ground was the ban imposed on Gurbaj.

Gurbaj’s lawyer, senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, said that they had asked the court to quash the order issued by HI and instruct the sport’s governing body to reinstate the mid-fielder into the team.

“The ban is not provided in HI’s code of conduct governing the players and officials. The ban is wrong,” Hundal said.

Later, speaking to The Tribune, Gurbaj said that he had full faith in the judiciary and would abide by the court’s verdict.

“I want to fight HI for the injustice. They banned me for no fault of mine. How could they rely on a report of just one person (Felix), who was later shown the door by HI itself, when all the other coaching staff and players are supporting me. I followed the due procedure by appealing against the ban, but HI and its disciplinary committee were hell bent on continuing my ban. They were not ready to listen to my side of the story. It looks like HI wants to finish off my career,” Gurbaj said.

“I have full faith in our judicial system and I hope that justice will prevail,” added Gurbaj, who has already served two months of his ban.

Gurbaj was suspended by the disciplinary committee, headed by Harbinder, after Felix levelled serious charges of “groupism and misbehaviour” against him in his report submitted after the Hockey World League (HWL) Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium. After the Semifinals, Felix quit, citing personal reasons.

Due to the ban, Gurbaj will miss the FIH Hockey World League Final in December and the 2016 Hockey India League (HIL). Even the chances of his participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics seem bleak because of his long absence from the national team.