IHF moves Delhi High court

The Indian Hockey Federation filed a petition in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, challenging the decision of the Indian Olympic Association’s special committee to recognise Hockey India as the national governing body for the game.

The Indian Hockey Federation filed a petition in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, challenging the decision of the Indian Olympic Association’s special committee to recognise Hockey India as the national governing body for the game.

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The court sought responses from the IOA, sports ministry, HI and FIH, the international hockey federation within a fortnight, fixing the next hearing for October 18. The court also directed that status quo which existed before the IOA panel's decision should be maintained.

“The impugned order passed by the IOA is clearly premeditated having already formed an opinion regarding the endorsement to be made in favour of the HI as regards the sole governing body in India.

The impugned order passed is blatantly illegal and without jurisdiction because the Special Committee was formed by the IOA at the asking of the respondent (FIH) to decide the central authority governing the sport of hockey in India,” the IHF said in its plea.

The IOA panel was formed on the request of the FIH to resolve the dispute and announced its decision on September 5.