Delhi High Court quashes order to derecognise IHF

New Delhi :

The Delhi High Court has quashed the Centre's order to de-recognise the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

The Indian Olympic Association had dissolved the IHF in April 2008 and Hockey India was formed as the interim goevrning body for the national game.

The decision has come as a blow to Hockey India, who are yet to have their elections. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) had given them the deadline of 31st May to conduct the elections. But Vidya Stokes, President of Hockey India, said that it is not possible to organize the elections before June.

This could also result in Hockey India losing its FIH membership.

Last month, the IHF tried to make the most of the situation of Hockey India's weakened position following the Union Sports Ministry's stance of not dealing with it.

At the same time, it questioned the ministry's decision to derecognise the IHF.

"In March, the Government said it had not derecognised the IHF. In April, it said it had derecognised IHF," IHF President K.P.S. Gill had told a press conference in April following the annual general meeting of the body. He had said the government did not have enough grounds to derecognise the IHF.

Gill had claimed that 17 member units were present at the meeting -- including Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, Goa and Karnataka -- and 11 had conveyed their support.

Gill mainly trained his guns on the Suresh Kalmadi-led IOA that had first suspended the IHF and then disaffiliated it to create Hockey India (HI).