SC issues notice to Sports Ministry on IHF's writ petition

Acting on a writ petition filed by the Indian Hockey Federation, the Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Sports Ministry seeking its reply as to why a stay order should not be put on its decision to grant National Sports Federation (NSF) status to Hockey India.
According to a statement released by the IHF, the apex court has also issued notices to the concerned parties -- the Ministry, Indian Olympic Association, HI and International Hockey Federation (FIH) -- seeking their replies on IHF's writ petition.
"IHF challenged the decision by way of a writ petition before the Supreme Court contending that the issue of which body represented the sport of hockey was pending before the Supreme Court and until disposal of the proceedings pending before the Supreme Court, the Ministry, which itself is a party to the proceedings, ought not to have taken a decision on the matter," IHF said in a statement today.

"IHF contended that the decision dated 28th February, 2014 was even contrary to the Ministry's own stand before the Courts.
"At the hearing of 8th May, the Supreme Court was pleased to issue notice on the writ petition and the application of stay order and to direct listing of the matter in the second week of July immediately after the summer vacations," the IHF claimed.
IHF's filed the writ petition after the Sports Ministry had declared HI as the sole NSF for the game of hockey in the country on February 28 this year.