CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, May 31: After finding that Hockey India had broken the National Sports Code, the Delhi High Court placed the federation under the supervision of a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) on June 25.
The Court’s decision came in response to a suit brought by former India player Aslam Sher Khan, who questioned IOA President Narinder Batra’s designation as a life member of Hockey India.
The High Court ruled that HI’s appointment of Batra as a life member and Elena Norman as CEO were unconstitutional and that Hockey India’s administrative structure was therefore incorrect or illegal.
With regard to this matter, lagatar24.com contacted the officials from Hockey Jharkhand to get an insight regarding the whole matter and what impact it will have on the State Administration.
“There will be no impact of the decision taken by Delhi High Court on Hockey Jharkhand. We have been following all the guidelines given by Hockey India and the Indian Government and we do everything that is legal,” said Manoj Konbegi, vice president at Hockey Jharkhand.
Notably, on Saturday, the Annual General Meeting of Hockey Jharkhand was held in Ranchi where the Executive Committee for the tenure 2022-26 was elected. In this meeting, Returning Officer, retired Principal District Judge Jaiprakash Singh, District Sports Officer Ranchi Upavan Bada as an observer from Jharkhand Government, Shri Shivendru Dubey Treasurer from Jharkhand Olympic Association and Hockey India as Observer from Jharkhand Olympic Association were elected.
Konbegi added that the meeting was held under the complete guidelines of Hockey India.
Meanwhile, an allegation claimed that Rs 35 lakh in Hockey India funds were utilized for Batra’s personal gain. The Delhi HC gave the CoA the authority to recover any money owed to Hockey India by Batra from the sports administrators, while also urging the panel to bring in accountability.