The Delhi High Court held the general secretary of Hockey India, Bholanath Singh, guilty of contempt of court in an oral judgement on Monday.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav noted that the issue of sentence would be heard on 4 May, but granted Bholanath the liberty to “purge the contempt and undertake such measures as found fit.”
The court’s judgement was on a contempt plea filed by Hockey India Vice President Syeed Asima Ali, who had alleged non-compliance of an order passed on 17 January, 2025.
The court had ordered Hockey India officials to give the petitioner access to requisite links and enable her participation in all executive board meetings.
Hockey India and Bholanath Singh failed to do so in two meetings conducted on 4 July, 2025 and 27 July, 2025, forcing Ali to file a plea.
“In light of the discussion above, the Court is of the opinion that the impugned action of the respondents, specifically, Mr. Bhola Nath Singh, in willfully disobeying Court orders, in the facts of the present case, undermines the majesty of the Court,” the judgement noted.
Justice Kaurav also pulled up Hockey India for “administrative sin.”
“It must be emphasized that Mr. Bholanath Singh, the General Secretary of Hockey India, is administering a National Sports Federation, an authority that functions under the aegis of, and receives funds from, the State. For such an authority, non-compliance of the orders of the Court, is no less than an administrative sin,” the judgement read.
