Indian Hockey Federation
Executive Committee Meeting

Minutes of the Executive committee meeting of the Indian Hockey federation held at 11, Talkatora Road, New Delhi and India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Estate on 16th Sep 2008 at 6 PM under the Chairmanship of Sh KPS Gill, President, IHF.

President greeted the members and apprised them in detail about the developments which took pace during last six months an arbitrary action of Indian Olympic Association necessitating him to file a Court case in the Delhi High Court. The President further informed the Members that during the last hearing on 29th Aug 08 the Hon’ble Court has directed the IOA to file an affidavit within four weeks time specifying timeframe for Elections of the IHF and have fixed date of hearing on 4th Dec, 08. The President emphasized that IHF would conduct independent elections under IOA observer or Court appointed observer. Mr. Pratap Satpathy reminded that another case is pending in Delhi high Court barring to ho deletions. Shri Chander Shekhar intervned and said that we should not mix the issues so that we not face any embarrassment later on. He pointed out that he is not aware of many developments in the IHF for the last three / four years and specifically about he formation of Indian Hockey Confederation.

The President clarified in detail about the formation of IHF and added that we have been successful in maintaining our individual identity. The FIH has recognized the formatin of IHF in 2003 and IOA has also approved that merger maintaining individual identify of IHf and IWHF both.

The President informed the House in detail about the IOA’ action, related developments and subsequent legal proceedings and asked Mr Chander Shekhar if he need further clarification, Mr Chander Shekhar wanted to know whether the decision of the Court would be acceptable to FIH and also about he proposed name change to Hockey India. Shri Satpathy intervened to clarify that Court order would be acceptable to all including FIH and nobody including FIH can force us to change the name.

Shri Chander Shekhar pointed that during last four / five years there was hardly any meeting and attributed whatever criticism highlighted in print and electronic media in the past six months as a collective failure and called for immediate change of guards and demanded sacking of Sh. K. Jothikumaran. He further asked the President if he intends to contest the elections.

The President countered and enquired if we are here to discuss elections.

Sh. Chander Shekhar remained critical about the working of Sh. Jothikumaran and said that he has been informally discussing all these developments with many members including Mr. SP Dass, who was present in the Meeting and emphasized that such situation would not have arisen, had we exercised caution. Sh. Shekhar strongly urged to remove Sh. Jothikumaran.

Sh. KPS Gill replied that when Mr. Chander Shekhar can discuss with Mr Dass and other members, he should have discussed the same with him being a very senior office bearer of the Federation. The President asserted that Mr.Jotikumaran is not his appointee bt was appointed through certain procedure laid down in the IHF constitution and he can be removed through that procedure only.

Sh. SS Saini was critical about functioning of Mr. Jotikumaran and said that we have to save hockey at this juncture.

Sh. KPSGill exhorted Sh. Chander Shekhar and Sh. Saini that you could have come forward to save hockey and asked them whether they are for hockey or against Jothikumaran. He President further informed that embers that he has been spending for court case and meetings out of his own pocket to save the identify fo Indian Hockey Federation. The president observed that he firmly believes that man is not guilty unless proved’ and informed the members that Mr. Johikumaran has field a libel suit in the Chennai High Court and during number of previous hearings the defendents have not come forward with required evidence to defend them.

Sh. Ramesh Kolappa appreciated the performance of our teams and goodwork done in the past by the IHF. He appealed not to indulge in the blame game as everything was fabricated to malign the reputation of the IHF.

KPS Gill asserted that we have been Champions in Asia in Senior as well as Junior age grous and are currently placed at 9th rank, in spite of this we were not in the Olympics.

Sh SP Dass suggested that the President should have come out with some action or statement to clear the doubts about the controversy. The President informed that he had immediately constituted a three member Enquiry committee to look into whole affair and observed that he has not even suspended a constable without an enquiry during his lifetime. He further informed that Mr. Jothikumaran on the same night communicated to him that he is disassociating himself from hockey and the same was communicated to the press the same day.

Sh. KPS Gill pointed that only Mr. Saini and Mr. Chander Shekhar are blaming Mr Jothikumaran and deviating from agenda.

Sh Satpathy reminded that realizing the sentiments of the public, Mr. Jothikumaran has already resigned and the president has already spoken at length on the issue and it would be appropriate that we all should stand united to save the identify of the Federation. Sh. Chander Shekhar intervened and said that it was the duty of Mr. Jothikumaran to convene AGM and to keep al members informed. He again asked Mr. Gill whether he would contest the elections. Mr. Gill emphatically replied that until few minutes before he was not prepared but now he has made p his mind to contest.

The President then took up the agenda:

Most of these part are covered in the AGM minutes those are not repeated here)

Any other matter with the permission of the chair

Mr. SS Saini called for actively promoting the game hockey at grass root level.

The House complimented Jr. India team for winning the Junior Asian Championship and also congratulated Hyderabad Hockey Association for successfully organizing the Jr. Asia Championship. Mr. Ram Chander Rao informed that HHA has also conducted coaching camp for the Junior India team and have incurred approx. Rs 8 lakhs and requested for refund of that amount

The Executive Committee discussed the issue and passed following resolution:

“The Executive Committee f the IHF resolved to take up the matter with IOA to refund the amount of expenditure of Approx Rs.8 Lakhs incurred by Hyderabad Hockey Association in conducting coaching camps and related expenses of Jr India team’s training from IOA”.

Sh. Satpathy called for giving up our differences and be united to face uncalled for and arbitrary action of IOA.

President called to organize Sub Junior National Championship at zonal basis and divided the pool in proper balance and not on regional basis so as to avoid clash of good team in their own zone He also felt that this system will not put financial burden on one unit. Tentative dates would be third week of November to be finalized in AGM.