Odisha High Court stays Hockey India elections

<p>The Orissa High Court has stayed the Hockey India elections scheduled for December 5 till further orders on the next date of hearing, The Hindu reported. A single-judge bench of Justice R. K. Pattanaik passed the order on Friday. The bench was hearing a petition filed by Hockey Association of Odisha challenging a showcause notice from Hockey India and its proposed reclassification from Permanent to Associate Member.</p>

Why it matters

<p>The decision relates to the 120th Executive Meeting of Hockey India held on October 6, when the notice and reclassification were proposed. Hockey Odisha contended that the notice was illegal and invalid because the current executive committee’s term had already expired on September 30. </p>

<p>Acharya argued that the election process violated central sports governance regulations and directives. He said district-level hockey association elections had not been completed across the country, and the Central Government had directed national sports bodies to defer elections until December 31. He further argued that conducting elections while attempting to deprive Hockey Odisha of its permanent membership rights without resolving the membership dispute was unlawful and unconstitutional.</p>

<p>The High Court stayed both the election process and the show-cause notice. The next hearing is scheduled for December 9. The interim orders provide temporary relief to Hockey Odisha while the legal questions remain pending before the court.</p>

Context

<p>Hockey India plans, directs and conducts all activities for men’s and women’s field hockey in India and is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as the sole body responsible for promoting the sport. It was formed after the Indian Hockey Federation was dismissed in 2008. The India men’s national field hockey team is governed by Hockey India.</p>

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Sources

• The Hindu

• ommcomnews.com

• Photo: Jack de Nijs for Anefo, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)