Reconsider Mander’s appointment: Ministry

NEW DELHI: The Union Sports Ministry has advised Hockey India to preferably appoint a retired High Court or District Court judge as the returning officer for its elections on February 7 instead of G.S. Mander.

The ministry quoted the guidelines issued by it on January 8 to reiterate its stand that no one connected with HI or the Indian Olympic Association should be appointed as the Returning Officer.

In a separate communication to HI, the ministry also endorsed the observations of the Election Observer, S.K. Mendiratta, that only an office-bearer or a member of a particular unit could participate in the elections.

The ministry has advised HI to inform its member units to follow the relevant clause in its Memorandum of Association.

Mendiratta said he had advised HI it was still not too late to have consultations with the Government on the appointment of the Returning Officer.

Further, units could authorise one male and one female member drawn from the member units to participate in the elections. Associations were not allowed to nominate people from outside their bodies, according to the rules, he added. — Special Correspondent