Bombay High Court Upholds Stay on Maharashtra Ice Hockey Team Selection
The Bombay High Court has delivered a stern rebuke to sports authorities while refusing to lift the stay on the selection of Maharashtra's ice hockey team for the Khelo India Winter Games 2026. In a significant ruling on Wednesday, the court dismissed an interim application seeking to vacate the stay, highlighting serious flaws in the selection process conducted on rough tiles instead of an ice rink.
'Chalta Hai' Attitude Under Fire
A bench comprising Justices Ravindra V Ghuge and Abhay J Mantri expressed strong disapproval of what they termed the "chalta hai" attitude prevalent in sports administration. "You need to put your house in order. This is happening because of what is famously called the 'chalta hai' attitude. Ultimately, what has happened is sports get defeated," the judges remarked during the proceedings.
The court emphasized that the state was not being represented by deserving athletes due to administrative negligence. "The state is not represented by those worthy of selection, only because somebody refuses to go to the rink," the bench observed, directing their comments toward sports authorities present during the hearing.
Flawed Selection Process Exposed
The High Court had initially imposed the stay last week after discovering shocking details about the selection trials. According to court observations:
- Trials were conducted on rough tiles at the SMT Skating Sports facility in Nigdi, Pune
- Selections were carried out using roller skates with ice hockey sticks
- No puck was used during the selection process
- All 19 players were selected in a single day on January 13
- No practice matches were conducted during the selection
"In a case before us, neither practice match was played, nor did any selected candidate step on the ice hockey rink available at a Pune mall," the bench noted in their detailed observations.
Court Rejects Justification for Non-Ice Trials
When the applicant's lawyer argued that selections are not conducted on ice rinks in Maharashtra and some other states due to non-availability, the judges responded with sharp criticism. "If we cannot afford an ice rink, do not play the game then. If there was a rink available, you should have at least made an attempt to get an idea," the bench stated.
The court emphasized the fundamental difference between practicing on tiles versus ice, noting that this discrepancy directly impacts competitive performance. "It makes a world of difference. And therefore we do not get medals as we practice in this way and have to actually compete in another way," the judges remarked, highlighting how such flawed preparation affects India's medal prospects in international competitions.
Timing and Tournament Implications
The ruling comes at a critical juncture as the Khelo India Winter Games began in Leh on January 20, with the ice hockey tournament commencing on Wednesday. Maharashtra's team was scheduled to play a match on Thursday, January 22, but remains barred from participation due to the court order.
Senior advocate Surel Shah, appearing for the interim applicant, had sought urgent vacation of the stay, arguing that the team had been barred by the court order, leaving the state unrepresented in the national tournament. However, the court found multiple grounds to reject the application.
Technical Grounds for Dismissal
The bench noted that interim applicant Prashant Rajaram Chavan, one of the 19 selected players who claimed to be the authorized signatory of the Ice Hockey Association of Maharashtra (ICAM), was not an elected office-bearer of the body. On this technical ground alone, the court determined that his plea could not be entertained.
This case originated from a plea filed by ice hockey players from Sangli and Pune challenging the selection process. The court had previously pulled up sports authorities for selecting all 19 players while excluding 20 national-level players who had earlier participated in the Khelo India Winter Games.
Broader Implications for Sports Administration
The Bombay High Court's strong stance against the "chalta hai" attitude in sports administration sends a clear message to sporting bodies across the country. By refusing to compromise on selection standards and emphasizing proper infrastructure for trials, the court has set an important precedent for how sports selections should be conducted in India.
The court specifically noted the "most shocking factor" was the decision to ignore the available ice hockey rink at Phoenix Millennium Mall in Wakad, Pune district, opting instead for tile-based trials. This decision, according to the court, fundamentally compromised the selection process and disadvantaged deserving athletes.
As Maharashtra's ice hockey team remains sidelined from the Khelo India Winter Games, this case highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms in how winter sports are managed and athletes are selected in states lacking natural ice conditions.
