Fresh trouble for Hockey India
Joe Williams / DNAThursday, February 4, 2010 0:29 IST
That the sports ministry has not been happy with the way Hockey India (HI) has been shaping up has been obvious for some time. But now it has put its displeasure on record in the Delhi high court, saying it would be happy to see the present set of office-bearers banished from the scene.
The ministry is reported to have filed an affidavit in reference to an earlier matter in the court, in which it has said that it would not like to deal with the current officials and would like a new body in place.
The ministry was responding to the court, which is hearing a PIL filed by one Rahul Mehra, which seeks a probe into the functioning of various sports bodies in the country, including the
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and HI.
The PIL contends that sports bodies cannot function as private organisations without any accountability of obligations. The ministry cannot direct HI to disband as it has got due recognition from the IOA, the world hockey body (FIH) and by the government (sports ministry). However, since the game is dependent on the government for funding, it can be in trouble if the ministry decides to distance itself from the body’s functioning.
In case a national body is suspended by the government or a court, it can be deemed to be in contravention of the Olympic Charter. If the national body (IOA) vouches for such disregard, the country runs the risk of losing its status and losing major international events due to be hosted by it.
Some members of the hockey fraternity were happy at the move and hoped for a major change in the way the game is run in the country. Former Indian hockey chief KPS Gill said the sports ministry had made the right move. “People involved in the HI have vested interests, which is not going to help our national game,” said Gill.
Olympian Aslam Sher Khan also applauded the ministry’s move. “This is an encouraging move as they (HI) are not promoting hockey,” said Khan.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) refused to comment on this latest development, saying it hasn’treceived any ‘official’ communication yet.