By S. Kannan in Chennai
Tells FIH that it wants Hockey India polls to be free and fair
THE sports ministry has suggested a list of clear cut guidelines for the Hockey India ( HI) elections to be held in the Capital on January 29 and has shot off a letter to the international hockey federation ( FIH) stating how it wants the process to be free and fair.
A day after the ministry and Hockey India received a strong letter from FIH vice- president Antonio van Ondarza, where he had expressed serious reservations about the election process which had been suggested by HI, meetings have taken place and a poll
process decided upon.
The ministry, while expressing its displeasure over the draft election by- laws circulated by Hockey India on January 4, now says it is laying down ‘ minimum principles that the government would like to see before elections to Hockey India are held’. The ministry wants a finalisation of the electoral college not later than January 15. “ Since the elections have to be conducted independently, free from any vested interests, it would be necessary than an independent returning officer is appointed by the president, Hockey India, immediately,” the ministry said.
To drive home the point so that there can be no hanky panky, the ministry stated that the “ returning officer should in no way be connected with Hockey India or the Indian Olympic Association and should be preferably a retired High Court/ district court judge.” With a clear objective that the election follows the correct procedure, the ministry said: “ The election notice calling for nominations must be issued by the returning officer and not by any office bearer of Hockey India.
This is absolutely essential
because the present body is just an interim body, which cannot exercise the powers of a duly elected body.” After seeing the way Hockey India has run affairs in recent times, the ministry felt: “ Once the election process is set in motion, the present office bearers of Hockey India should be at arm’s length from the election process and should have no role in the conduct of the elections.” The ministry said it also wants the Indian Olympic Association to follow the same rules as regards the HI elections as ‘ Hockey India was constituted by the IOA by invoking its extraordinary powers’. All this is in stark contrast to what Hockey India had suggested two days back in a written mail to the FIH and the sports ministry.
The ministry said: “ There should be a clear schedule marking each stage of the elections — last date for receipt of nominations, scrutiny of nominations, publication of list of valid nominations, withdrawal of nominations, publication of final list of valid nominations and conduct of elections.
“ Minimum intervals must be kept between these procedures ( in the different stages of election)”. Also, the sports ministry wants elections for all posts to be held simultaneously.
To rub more salt into the wounds of Hockey India, the letter said: “ The principles mentioned are the minimum ones in the eyes of the government for giving the country a credible body at the national level for the promotion and development of hockey in India, which is also perceived as the national game.” While noting the enormity of holding the election, the sports ministry has requested von Ondarza to advance his programme and come to New Delhi a few days before the elections.
On the plus side, the ministry has conveyed to the FIH how ‘ substantial progress has been made’ with regard to affiliation to Hockey India.
“ But we would like to state that the pending applications for the affiliation should be disposed of by Hockey India at the earliest.
We have noted with concern that the application of Hockey Punjab is pending,” the ministry said.
In fact, Hockey India had raised objections to Punjab’s affiliation as some complaints had been received against them. But the ministry said, “ The complaints have not been shared with the election observor ( SK Mendiratta).” More importantly, the ministry has pointed out to the FIH how complaints were received not only about Punjab but other state units too.
As things stand, if elections of Hockey India happen as per the plan suggested by the sports ministry, it would be a historic first. After all, sports federation elections in India are a big sham.
The sports ministry has also requested that Leandro Negre, the FIH president, should come and witness the Hockey India elections.