Delhi High Court rejects plea of Premier Hockey Development: Hockey News
The Delhi High Court, while dismissing the plea of Premier Hockey Development Pvt. Ltd (PHD), has declined to intervene in the agreement between the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sports for launching a multi-million dollar IPL-style hockey league.
The petition filed by PHD sought court’s intervention in the deal between the IHF and the Nimbus Sports, the sub-project of the Nimbus Communication. However, the court refused to interfere in the pact and imposed fine on PHD of INR 0.1 million owing to
suppressing the truth in the case.
Premier Hockey Development was founded as a result of an agreement between a popular sports channel and IHF back in 2004. The channel's has 49 percent stakes, while the IHF held 51 percent shares. The body was created to host the premier league for next
ten years. However, it was organised for only three years, from 2005 to 2008.
In another move, the IHF has inked a compact with Nimbus Sports back in 2010 for launching an annual league on lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which was challenged by the PHD. The court disposed the plea observing that it (petition) was filed without
the votes of all members.
The court in its decision observed, “Quorum prescribed by agreements was not complete as there was no director nominated by IHF present and voting. The petition has not been instituted by the PDH by validly passing board resolution and is unauthorised and
without proper authority.”
The court also ruled out the argument of the channel’s counsel that the federation had been decertified by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and not in position to host the league. Justice Sanghi was of the opinion that despite suspension from IOA, the
IHF has had its own juristic identity.
Conversely, the court also noted down in the verdict that its observation will be obligatory on any tribunal form to address the differences between the two organisations.
The federation stated that that sports channel had failed to achieve its responsibility regarding provision of funding and sponsorship for the lavish style of hockey league. It said, “ESPN failed to perform its obligation to provide sponsorship and funding
for organising Premier Hockey League by PHD after 2008 and there is complete abandonment of the 2004 agreement.”
It is vital to mention here that the hockey is facing worst time of the history, as the clash between Hockey India (HI) and IHF for acknowledgement has not been resolved thus far.
The Delhi High Court had recognised the authority of the IHF. However, the verdict was challenged in the apex court. The Supreme Court of India provisionally permitted HI to pick up the squad for both genders for all the international fixtures.
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