The Supreme Court on Friday permitted Hockey India to hold elections for its executive body but restrained it from implementing the results.
A Bench comprising Justice Altmas Kabir and Justice A.K. Patnaik stayed the interim orders of the Bombay and the Delhi High Court orders restraining HI from conducting elections scheduled for July 28 and posted the matter for further hearing on August 19.
Appearing for HI, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi submitted that elections were to be held by July 31 and non holding of the elections would have far-reaching consequences. He said the country would not be able to participate in any of the international hockey events for men and women, including the Commonwealth Games.
Senior counsel Indu Malhotra, appearing for the Indian Olympic Association, also submitted that HI — affiliated to the International Hockey Federation — would not be able to send any team for international participation.
The Bench, after hearing the counsels for both parties, directed the matter to be listed for final hearing on August 19 and asked them to complete the pleadings by then.
The Delhi High Court had, on July 28, stayed the election process in HI following the failure of the Central Government to clarify the legal position regarding HI and the Indian Hockey Federation. The Bombay High Court had also stayed the HI elections for three weeks on a petition filed by Mumbai Hockey Association. The special leave petitions by HI are directed against these interim orders.
