Hockey India election deferred
The Hockey India (HI) elections, scheduled for February 7, have been deferred yet again, the interim office-bearers of the national body said on Saturday.
The election, which has already generated a lot of controversies, was postponed due to a stay order from the Rajasthan High Court.
The office-bearers of HI met on Saturday for an emergency meeting and decided to put off the elections indefinitely till the court gives the final decision.
“We didn’t have any other option. We have to abide by the court order and wait until the matter is resolved,” HI treasurer Narendra Batra told DNA.
The elections, which have already been postponed a couple of times, were to be held before the hockey World Cup scheduled for February 28-March 13 in New Delhi, but the latest legal development is bound to delay it further. HI referred the matter to the Returning Officer GS Mander along with a copy of the said order and minutes.
“The court has stayed the operation of the minutes of the meeting January 11 in which 30 states/union territories and 4 institutions/ boards were granted affiliation,” HI said in a statement.
“The matter was referred to the returning officer, GS Mander, who after taking legal advice, has directed HI to defer the elections till the final decision is taken by the Rajasthan High Court, because the entire electoral college of HI has been stayed,” HI said in a statement.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has in the past warned HI to conduct the elections before the World Cup begins. Now with so little time for the quadrennial event to start, it remains to be seen what stance the FIH takes.
When contacted, FIH spokesman Arjen Meijer said they would react only by Monday. But on that day, more trouble could follow HI with two crucial hearings in the Delhi High Court and the Mumbai High Court lined up.
Surprises in Electoral College
Meanwhile, election observer BK Mendiratta released the Electoral College to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs earlier after a day’s delay. The list did throw up some surprises, with the big one being KPS Gill being named as the New Delhi representative.
Former secretary of the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation Amrit Bose, who was also a strong contender, found her name being struck off from the list. Another big surprise was the omission of Hockey Karnataka (HK).
The list says that the names of HK representatives haven’t been received but the association’s secretary Krishnamurthy says he has the evidence of him sending the names. Batra, though, clarified the issue.
“They have sent their names on the Karnataka Hockey Association (KHA) letter pad. KHA is affiliated to the now-dissolved Indian Hockey Federation and not to us. Despite repeated requests, they didn’t change it. They just have to change the name on the letter head and their affiliation will be done,” Batra explained.
Suresh Kalmadi, who was speculated to be vying for the president’s post, has been left out of the list representing the Maharashtra Hockey Association. Ikram E Khan and Leena Walia will represent the state.
JB Roy, also one of the big players, will represent the Bengal Hockey Association. There is also a dispute concerning Hockey Chandigarh, which will be settled by the Returning Officer on the day of election. An array of former players, Pargat Singh, his bete noire Thoiba Singh, Neeta Dumre and Savitri Purty’s names are in the list.