Vidarbha’s plea for affiliate membership at Indian Hockey rejected by Supreme Courtroom

The Supreme Courtroom has declined to entertain the Vidarbha Hockey Affiliation’s plea for recognition as an “affiliate member” of Hockey India and the Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA). Citing clear guidelines that permit just one affiliation per state, the Courtroom questioned why Vidarbha did not file a rejoinder when it was derecognised by the Maharashtra Hockey Affiliation.

Reiterating the one-association-per-state rule, the Courtroom emphasised procedural lapses on Vidarbha’s half and upheld the regulatory framework governing sports activities our bodies.

Final yr, the choice to revoke Vidarbha Hockey’s membership with Hockey India (HI) – the nationwide governing physique for the game – was taken in accordance with the Indian Olympic Affiliation’s (IOA) “One State, One Unit” coverage. The choice was taken by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay Excessive Courtroom.

Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri delivered the decision whereas ruling on the writ petition filed by the VHA regarding its membership with HI. With the Excessive Courtroom upholding HI’s choice, VHA’s membership was deemed withdrawn efficient July 1, 2020.

In an interview with The Occasions of India final yr, Hockey India’s authorized counsel, Shreerang Bhandarkar, remarked that if Vidarbha had been acknowledged as a separate state, the VHA might have sustained itself and continued as a member of the nationwide federation.

He emphasised that the VHA doesn’t have management over the varied district associations, because it claims. Nevertheless, he famous that the VHA wouldn’t be left with out recourse – particular person districts would nonetheless be capable to apply instantly for membership with Hockey Maharashtra, permitting them to compete in state, nationwide, and worldwide hockey occasions.

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