Staff Reporter
WITH the sword of disaffiliation hanging on its head, the Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) on Friday moved the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court seeking urgent stay to the decision of Hockey India to disaffiliate VHA from July 1. VHA claimed that it was in existence since 1959 and applying ‘One State One Unit’ norm of Justice (retd) R M Lodha Committee report that applied to Cricket Boards would be unfair and unjust to VHA. In fact, VHA was not interested in getting voting right at all.
A division bench consisting of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Anil Kilor issued notice to Hockey India and posted the matter for final disposal on June 26.
According to VHA, in Maharashtra, there are three units including VHA at Nagpur representing 22 districts of Vidarbha, Khandesh and Marathwada hockey players, Mumbai Hockey Association and Maharashtra Hockey Association at Pune. VHA has a glorious past and is in possession of 3.80 acre land at Civil Lines and 2.5 acre land at Sadar since five decades, where regular hockey tournaments and camps are held for players
since decades.
The petitioner-association repeatedly stated that it was fighting the battle to retain the existence for the sake of the career of hundreds of hockey players of the region and was not interested in affairs of the national body now known as Hockey India (earlier Indian Hockey Federation).
VHA Administrator Triloki Nath Sidhra in his petition also pointed out earlier attempts to dissuade Hockey India not to disaffiliate the association and let its players participate in Hockey India organised national championships. The letter was sent to Hockey India on February 19, 2020 followed by another representation dated May 29 but till date no reply has been received by the association, stated
Adv Anand Parchure appearing for VHA.
On June 3, VHA forwarded the annual subscription fee, but the same was returned by Hockey India stating that since the VHA’s membership would cease to exist on July 1, there was no question of accepting the subscription fees, forcing VHA to knock the doors of the High Court.
On January 6, 2020, Hockey India had asked VHA and several other Associate Units to merge with their State bodies by June 30, 2020, citing Indian Olympic Association’s ‘One State One Unit’ diktat. VHA was asked to merge with Hockey Maharashtra which is a Permanent Member of HI. VHA was incorporated as an Associate Member with Hockey India in June 2013 after the then president BC Bhartia and secretary Vinod Gawai, fought for its inclusion. Since then VHA teams have participated in Hockey India organised nationals. Non-affiliation from Hockey India might also bring downfall of the game in central India and put careers of budding players in jeopardy, the petitioner apprehended while seeking stay to this move detrimental to the interests of hockey players.
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Since there was no reply from Hockey India I had no other option but to move court. I have already said that VHA is not interested in vote policy. We have never voted in Hockey India nor we want any voting power in future. VHA only wants it’s players get chance to play in Hockey India organised national championships. We have never received any benefits from HI nor are we want any financial grant from them. We only want to protect and safeguard interest of players from the region. —TN Sidhra
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