By IANS,
New Delhi : On a plea of former player and coach Joachim Carvalho alleging that Hockey India (HI) was threatening players to prevent them from taking part in the World Series Hockey (WSH) tournament, the Delhi High Court Monday cleared the decks for the players to participate in the league if the tournament schedule does not clash with international commitments of the national team.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said: “We are of the opinion that the matter can be placed before the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in the same perspective as narrated by us in the judgment. Thus, clarification can be sought from the FIH.”
“At this time, the FIH can be impressed upon to sanction the event (WSH) if it is still required, more so, when the new dates to be fixed by the organizers are not in any way clashing with the schedule fixed by FIH for international events,” the court further observed.
The division bench, stating that IHF had already agreed to re-schedule WSH, said: “Domestic events can be arranged in such a manner that it does not come in conflict with preparatory camps or the period when the international events are going to be held.”
The court also observed that HI’s regulations that restrains players to participate in WSH would only apply in respect of the commitments made after March 31, 2011.
The tournament, a joint initiative of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sports, was slated Dec 17-Jan 22. The WSH is not sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which recognises the HI as the official custodian of the national sport in the country.
Carvalho had approached the court alleging that the HI, which is fighting legal battles with the IHF, was threatening players that if they took part in the WSH, they would not be selected for national duty.
The WSH’s organisers claimed that the tournament was aimed at re-invigorating hockey. On the lines of IPL, the WSH would be played among eight franchise-based teams.