31 Jul 2010, 0346 hrs IST

Sports News: New Delhi: Acting on a petition filed by Hockey India, the Supreme Court has put a stay on the orders of the Delhi and Bombay High Court and has allowed Hockey India to conduct the executive body elections at the earliest.

A detailed hearing on the case will take place on the 19th of August and thus the apex court has asked Hockey India not to implement the decisions until the final verdict is out.

This comes in the wake of FIH taking a stern stand against the confusion that prevails in Indian hockey which would have resulted in India being de-affiliated from the international body.

Earlier, problems were compounded for hockey India when the Bombay High Court had stayed the HI elections for three weeks on a petition filed by Mumbai Hockey Association.





Contrary to the guidelines for recognition of sports federation, the Centre had told the Delhi High Court that both the HI and IHF were recognised bodies for the sport.

Pointing out the violation of the guidelines which says that there can be only one recognised body for the sport, Justice S Murlidhar said, "This court is left with no option but to stay the election process till further orders."

The High Court came down heavily on the Central government for not complying with its order regarding recognition of Hockey India (HI) despite the assurance given by its advocate on Tuesday.

Despite the High Court's order that HI is a private body and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) the only recognised body of the sport, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said that both IHF and HI are recognised bodies.

Furious over the stand taken by the government, Justice Muralidhar said that it's a breach of the court's order and directed the government to issue fresh letter. The government, however, refused maintaining the stand that both the HI and the IHF are recognised bodies.

Joint Secretary (Sports) Injeti Srinivas, who appeared before the court, said that the HI is also a government recognised body.

The court had made it clear that the elections in the HI will not be allowed as long as the confusion persists.