Govt, observer cry foul over Mandher appointment

By Tushar Bhaduri in New Delhi

THE process for the February 7 elections of Hockey India faced another hiccup on Tuesday with the sports ministry and the government observer crying foul about the choice of the returning officer.

Hockey India has appointed GS Mandher for the important post but observer SK Mendiratta said his appointment could hamper a free and fair election.

“ According to the election guidelines, the returning officer should be an outsider and cannot be related to the current Hockey India set- up or the Indian Olympic Association ( IOA),” Mendiratta told M AIL T ODAY . “ Mandher is an IOA vice- president as well as president of the Wrestling Federation of India. Hockey India should have consulted the government before making the appointment. I’ve already talked to them about it and the government is also taking up the matter.” The sports ministry has also reiterated its advice for appointing a retired High Court judge or a district judge as returning officer to ensure that elections are free, fair and transparent.

The list of voters in the upcoming election also was a concern for Mendiratta.

“ Every state unit has to name two representatives — one male and one female — for attending the annual general meeting and voting, because the men’s and women’s bodies have to merge. This is provided in the constitution.

“ The representatives should not be proxies. A state unit cannot authorise another to vote on its behalf. Also, the representatives have to be residents of the state and members of its unit,” the election observer said.

Government has given states uptill January 21 to finalise their representatives, he informed.

The affiliation process of various state units has been long and bitter and not to everyone’s satisfaction.

The Mumbai Hockey Association ( MHA) has already dragged the national body to court when it was not recognised and another body was granted affiliation in Maharashtra.

“ MHA has written to the government as well as the International Hockey Federation that they are a corporate entity and should be recognised separately.

“ They don’t want to merge with any other body in Maharashtra but according to the constitution of Hockey India, only one body can be granted affiliation in a state,” Mendiratta said.

FIH NOT WORRIED

The International Hockey Federation ( FIH) on Tuesday expressed confidence that the Hockey India election will be held in a transparent manner.

“ We are very happy with the way things are developing now,” FIH president Leandro Negre said here. “ It will be free and democratic and Hockey India will be in right hands.” Negre heaped praise on the National Stadium, the venue for the World Cup.

“ It’s a miracle to see it come up in such a way since I saw it six months ago. ” He, however wanted a few matches to be played at the venue before the big event. “ A test event is not mandatory but it’s our suggestion to stage some matches even though it’s too late to invite international teams.” Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi said the camp for Indian probables, currently in Pune, will be moved to the venue in the first or second week of February.