Cuttack: In a relief to Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO), the Orissa high court has stayed Hockey India’s proposed Dec 5 elections to its executive committee and office-bearers, as well as a show-cause notice seeking to downgrade the state body from a permanent to an associate member.Justice R K Pattanaik passed the interim order on Friday while hearing a writ petition filed by HAO challenging decisions taken at Hockey India’s 119th and 120th executive body meetings on Oct 6. The stay will remain in force till the next hearing on Dec 9.HAO has also challenged the Oct 7 show-cause notice issued by Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh and subsequent steps taken for holding the elections.Senior advocate P K Rath, appearing for HAO, questioned the legality of the show-cause notice and challenged the election process initiated following the decision at the 119th executive body meeting.The state government also backed HAO’s challenge. Advocate General Pitambar Acharya told the court that Singh did not have the authority to issue the notice as the tenure of Hockey India’s executive committee had expired on Sept 30.Acharya said the notice proposed reclassifying HAO from a permanent to an associate member under Hockey India’s bylaws. He submitted that the proposed elections were linked to the alignment of state and district-level hockey associations with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.The advocate general also referred to the Dec 31, 2025 deadline for completing the alignment process and highlighted Odisha’s substantial stakes in the matter, including its sponsorship agreement with Hockey India and the state’s contribution to the sport.Taking note of the submissions, the court issued notices to the Union government and Hockey India and directed HAO to file the required requisites within seven days. Additional Government Advocate B P Nayak accepted notice on behalf of the state government.The court, while awaiting a response from Singh, stayed the show-cause notice, consequential notice and election schedule till Dec 9, when the matter will be taken up for final hearing and orders.