Hockey India election row: Sports ministry approaches HC

The Centre today approached the Delhi High Court challenging Hockey India’s(HI) recent appointment of GS Mander, vice president of Indian Olympic Association(IOA), as the Returning Officer for its election scheduled on February 7.

Issuing a notice to IOA and HI, a Division Bench headed by justice BD Ahmed sought the response of IOA and Hockey India by Monday on an urgent application filed by the sports ministry seeking the court’s direction to restrain Mander from functioning as Returning Officer for the election of Hockey India.

Terming that the appointment of Mander as RO is arbitrary, the Centre’s counsel told the Bench that the ministry has suggested names of three retired high court judges, including the name of retired justice CK Mahajan, but the apex hockey body ignored them and appointed Mander.

The lawyer also submitted that according to the guidelines, the electoral process would be completed by January 31 and the final list of nomination to be completed by February 2.

Seeking the court’s intervention, the government said justice Mahajan or the two other names should be considered for the appointment of the Returning Officer.

Earlier, on a PIL, the High Court has already sought a detailed affidavit from Hockey India about the modalities to conduct the election and the process of appointment of observers and the Returning Officer for the election.