VHA challenges HI decision to discontinue its membership

Nagpur: The Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) has approached Nagpur bench of Bombay high court to challenge Hockey India’s (HI) policy decision to discontinue its membership on the ground that there has to be only one body representing each state.
A division bench comprising justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Kilor on Friday issued notices to HI administrator asking it to reply by July 26.
The petitioner, through counsel Anand Parchure, contended that from May 10, 1959, to March 30, 1962, it was a registered association. Later, the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Association was renamed as VHA with its headquarters at Nagpur. It included Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh, comprising Jalgaon and adjoining districts.
The then government of Maharashtra allotted 3.80 acre in Civil Lines and 2.5 acre in Sadar to VHA, where several camps and hockey tournaments were held for boys and girls. Between 1980 and 1985, attempts were made to restrict VHA’s membership, however, due to protests, the policy decision was not implemented.
Currently, Maharashtra has three associations — Bombay Hockey Association (BHA), Bombay and Maharashtra Association at Pune, and VHA. All of them are permitted to forward their teams at national level tournaments.
The petitioner regularly conducted camps and tournaments to produce hockey players to represent the nation. Although affiliated, it wasn’t granted any financial grant by the apex body.
On January 6, it received a communication from the respondent informing that its membership would automatically cease from July 1.
The VHA contended that the decision was unilaterally taken and neither any show cause notice was issued, nor any opportunity of being heard was granted.
On February 19, VHA submitted a detailed representation requesting HI not to cancel the affiliation. It was under the impression that its request would be considered sympathetically, although queries were raised. It pointed out that the physical fitness of the players was being affected in the absence of tournaments.
According to the petitioner, since there was no communication from the respondent, it forwarded annual subscription of Rs200 for 2020-2021 to HI. The HI responded on June 3 to VHA confirming that since its membership ceases to exist with effect from July 1, there is no question of accepting affiliation fee, which was returned.
According to VHA, it wouldn’t have any right to participate in tournaments at any level as an independent association, and the practice going on for the last eight decades will be arbitrarily and unilaterally discontinued, if its membership is ceased.