Decide on grace marks to VHA players in three weeks: HC to Dir of Sports

By Paritosh Pramanik

July 10, 2026

PULLING up the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, Commissioner, Pune, for delay in taking decision on sports quota concession and grace marks to Vidarbha Hockey Association’s players, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has asked it to take decision within three weeks and convey it to the petitioner (VHA).

The bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj J Wakode, on Thursday, gave direction to the respondents after VHA approached the court seeking immediate decision as the concerned departments did not respond to their reply for over a year.

“In view of the submission made by petitioner, we dispose of the present writ petition with a direction to respondent No 1 (The State of Maharashtra Through Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare) and Respondent No 2 (The Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, Commissioner, Pune) more specifically respondent No 2 to decide the aforesaid representation dated 09.05.2025 within a stipulated period of three weeks from the date of production of the order,” the bench stated.

“The decision taken there upon shall be communicated to the petitioner (VHA) within a period of two weeks thereafter,” the bench ordered.

VHA was denied sports quota concession and grace marks for its players by Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, last year.

The association stated that its players were getting concessions and grace marks until 2024, despite it was de-affiliated from Hockey India in 2020.

VHA, through its counsels Senior Adv Firdos Mirza, Adv Anurag Mankar and Adv Niranjan Jadhav, also submitted that it is entitled and qualified to membership with Hockey Maharashtra as per the order passed by Hon’ble High Court in WP No 20253/2020 and also in accordance with the letter dated 06.01.2020 issued by Hockey India.

VHA also submitted that as per the affidavit filed by Hockey India, the association can function and participate in all the national level, state-level and other tournaments, selections under its own banner.

It also admitted that only in respect of participation in national level championship organised by Hockey India that VHA will have to participate through Hockey Maharashtra.

The association also submitted that withdrawal of sports quota concession and grace marks would result in grave prejudice to the players associated with VHA and adversely affect their education and career prospects.

VHA replies to Collector’s show cause notice

 Association submits documents related to 3.80 acres of land

Sports Reporter

June 25, 2026

VIDARBHA Hockey Association (VHA) has submitted its reply to the show cause notice issued by Collector’s Office. The district administration has sought explanation on number of points which were related to alleged voilation of lease conditions of the nazul land.

VHA, through its Advocate Niranjan Jadhav, submitted its reply in writng along with the documents of the ground, which is situated off Amravati Road.

The nazul department has renewed the lease of VHA ground period of thirty years, from 24 September 2007 to 23 September 2037. According to the show cause notice there are concerns regarding compliance with the terms and conditions stipulated in the lease renewal order. 

One of the key provisions under scrutiny is Condition No 5 of Form-BB attached to the lease renewal order. According to the condition, if the association loses government recognition or recognition from the competent department, the lease shall be deemed to have automatically expired.

“According to communications issued by the Commissioner, Sports and Youth Services, Maharashtra State, dated 4 May 2023 and 7 April 2025, the recognised organisations for the sport of hockey are Hockey India and Hockey Maharashtra. However, based on the records presently available with the administration, it appears that Vidarbha Hockey Association is not included among the recognised sports organisations. This situation has raised doubts regarding the continued fulfillment of the lease conditions, particularly those relating to recognition by the competent authority,” the notice read.

Krishna Joshi, who has been appointed as co-ordinator of VHA by Administrator Triloki Nath Sidhra, said there is no violation as the lease has been renewed till 2037.

“The lease was renewed in 2007 by Secretary Vinod Gavai. There was a theft in VHA office a few years back and several documents were stolen. We don’t know till which year the annual renewal fee has been deposited. I have asked the concerned department for the exact year from which we have to pay the renewal fee,” stated Joshi.

FLIP-FLOP FROM DSO

According to a submission from District Sports Office, which conducted hockey tournaments at VHA ground last year, the ground was not in playing condition and there was no changing rooms and washing rooms.

“The DSO asked us (VHA) for the ground. The matches were conducted under the aegis of The Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association (TNDUHA). We only provided the field with proper marking. There are two changing rooms and washing rooms. It was duty of TNDUHA to keep it clean as they received the funds from DSO.

“The DSO, through a letter dated 23-09-2025, also thanked the association for providing the ground. On one hand DSO showed satisfaction by thanking the association and on the other, it is claiming the ground as unplayable. This is double standards,” alleged Joshi.

“There is another hockey ground in Sadar which is also not affiliated with Hockey India or Hockey Maharashtra. I don’t think that association got any notice from Collector’s office,” said Joshi.