New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) The Supreme Court Wednesday gave the central government two days to indicate its stand on Hockey India’s plea seeking the court’s direction to select the men’s and women’s hockey teams for the Commonwealth Games (CWG).
In an apparent expression of its disappointment with the state of affairs in hockey, the apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice H.L. Gokhale observed that the country was faced with the prospect of not having a hockey team in place despite hosting the Games in October.
‘It (the selection of hockey team) should have been done earlier. So that they can become a cohesive team,’ Justice Raveendran observed.
‘When the women’s hockey team was sent to Argentina (by Hockey India) then it was acceptable to all,’ asked Justice Gokhale when Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium insisted on the listing of the matter Monday so that he could seek instructions from the government.
The matter would come up for hearing Friday.
Appearing for Hockey India, senior counsel Ashok Desai said that the selection of the men’s and women’s hockey team has to be completed by Aug 28 and communicated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) by Sep 3.
He told the court that if this schedule was not adhered to then India would not be eligible to participate in the hockey events of the Games.
At this, Justice Raveendran said: ‘That Union of India (also) knows.’
Desai said that most of Hockey India’s players were serving in government. In order to starve the Hockey India of the eminent players, the railways and services (defence) have withdrawn their association with it.
The court was told that Union ministry for youth affairs and sports was not happy with Hockey India, a private sports association granted temporary recognition by the government.
The court was told that only the team sponsored by Hockey India would be qualified to participate in the Games as the FIH recognized it.
The central government-backed entity to govern hockey, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), is not recognised by the FIH.
When the solicitor general told the court that IHF would be able to persuade the FIH to recognize it instead of Hockey India, Justice Raveendran asked why did the government then grant recognition to Hockey India till December 2010.
