Hockey India to adopt Govt. guidelines

K. P. MOHAN

Three months after it defied the Union Government and got de-recognised, Hockey India (HI) has decided to amend its constitution to incorporate the Government guidelines and to accept the age-limit and tenure clause for its office-bearers.

The crucial turnaround came at an Executive Board meeting of HI held here on November 3, at which it was unanimously decided to amend the constitution to fall in line with the age and tenure clauses of the federation as per the Union Sports Ministry letter of May 1 last.

A Special General meeting of the federation is to be called for this purpose at the “earliest”. The Secretary-General, Narinder Batra, had been authorised to fix a date and issue notice for the required amendments along with other amendments needed to be made in the constitution.

Much against Government’s directives, HI held its elections last August, amidst court cases, and elected 83-year-old Vidya Stokes as its president.

Government guidelines, revised last May, stipulate that the office-bearers should not hold their posts once they reached the age of 70.

Stokes resigned her post last month, paving the way for a rapprochement with the Government.

HI had repeatedly told courts and the Government that it was an independent, registered society and was not concerned about Government recognition or assistance.

Recent developments, including the change of heart among a few federations — tennis and weightlifting have already stated that they would fall in line while several others are queuing up — and a Delhi High Court decision not to stay the operation of the guidelines, seem to have forced HI to review the position.

HI was allowed by the Supreme Court to field teams in recent international competitions, including the ongoing Asian Games. Cases involving HI are still pending in various courts in the country.

The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), which by virtue of a court order was able to force the Government to withdraw its de-recognition, continues to be another body running hockey affairs. It had its scheduled elections stayed by various courts last month.

The ministry had advised it to postpone the elections as it sought clarifications in September last about its merger with the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF).

Govt. recognition

The IHF enjoys government recognition while HI is recognised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Meanwhile, the HI Executive appointed Mariamma Koshy of Kerala as interim president of the federation till such time a new president was elected or appointed.

Earlier, following Stokes’s resignation, Batra was authorised to carry out the functions of the president also.

HI decisions

The meeting decided to allot the National championship to Maharashtra, to be held in Pune from January 10 to 20, the junior National to Punjab, to be held at Jalandhar from January 23 to February 2; the National women’s championship to Haryana, to be held at Rohtak from January 17 to 27 and the junior National women’s championship to Andhra, to be held in Hyderabad from January 4 to 12.

The meeting also decided to nominate Pargat Singh as an associate vice-president of the federation on the recommendation of the interim president.

The meeting was informed that the FIH was offering India to be host for the Champions Trophy tournament in October-November, 2001, the AHF had offered the junior Asia Cup women’s tournament for 2011 and the senior Asia Cup for men for 2012-13.

The Board authorised the Secretary-General to hold discussions with all agencies concerned in order to bring these competitions to India.