Stokes’ HI president candidature under scrutiny
NEW DELHI: Vidya Stokes’ candidature for Hockey India president’s post is set to come under scanner as Sports Ministry on Monday made it clear that the “No Objection” given to the July 28 polls was conditional on abiding the recent age limitation guidelines of the government.
The government, however, clarified that the guideline pertaining to tenure limitation would not apply in the July 28 elections as it is the first poll of office bearers of Hockey India.
“As the conditional ‘No Objection’ to HI for conducting elections has been given by Sports Ministry to the fulfillment of policy guidelines, it now becomes incumbent on HI to duly observe and implement them in the current elections of office bearers,” government observer S K Mendiratta said in a letter to Returning Officer, Justice R C Chopra.
“The age restriction with regard to the President, Secretary General and Treasurer shall be applicable in relation to the present elections,” Mendirrata said in the letter, a copy of which has also been sent to HI secretary general Narinder Batra, Sports Ministry joint secretary Injeti Srinivas and FIH observer Antonio von Ondarza.
Stokes, who earlier held the post of Indian Women’s Hockey Federation, is above 70 now. Former India captain Pargat Singh has also filed nominations for the HI president’s post.
“Obviously, the restriction relating to number of terms of office would not apply in the case of the present election, this being the first election of office bearers of Hockey India,” Mendiratta said.
The government observer also said that age declarations of the candidates running for posts of Hockey India president, secretary and treasurer will be thoroughly checked during the scrutiny of nominations tomorrow.
“Declarations from the candidates with regarding to their age qualification, as is applicable in relation to the offices of President, Secretary General and Treasurer, which is maximum of 70 years will be relevant at the time of scrutiny of nominations scheduled to be held tomorrow the 20th July, 2010,” Mendiratta wrote in the letter.