IHF and HI set on merger course

The warring factions in the hockey administration were set on a merger course by Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Saturday.

At the end of a meeting involving officials of Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation, a compromise formula was worked out by the Sports Ministry.

The IHF and HI have to respond in one voice by Tuesday to effect a much-needed merger in the sport’s administration.

Narinder Kumar Batra, Pratap Satpathy, Mushtaq Ahmed and Rajeev Mehta represented HI, while R. K. Shetty and Ashok Mathur were present on behalf of the IHF at the meeting held at Shastri Bhavan.

Mr. Maken was assisted by Secretary, Sports, Sindhushree Khullar and Joint-Secretary Injeti Srinivas.

The formula allows HI to have 17 members, one more than the IHF, in the executive board of the proposed body. “They will have equal voting rights. The idea behind having both the parties to sign their acceptance is to avoid any legal hassles. It is a balanced proposal and will involve good people from both sides. I am sure they will grab this chance,” said Mr. Maken.

What if the parties did not agree? “We will inform the Supreme Court,” said Mr. Maken, quoting an interim order from the apex court that said, “It will be open to the Union of India to take appropriate decision on the matter and place it before the court.”

The Sports Ministry said in a statement it had been making efforts through a series of meetings to mediate in the matter and facilitate an amicable settlement between HI and the IHF with the “interest of the players and the game.”

DECLINE OF THE GAME

According to Mr. Maken, the tussle between the two factions had led to the decline of the game in the country.

In the compromise formula, former IHF president K.P.S. Gill will be co-opted as Life Patron in an honorary capacity without voting rights. HI will retain the key posts.

IHF Secretary Ashok Mathur said, “We are optimistic. Hockey is crucial because it involves peoples’ sentiments. We are not for posts.”

The merger will be viable only if it is executed at the State and district level. Taking cognisance of the problem, it has been proposed, “With regard to disputes prevailing in some of the State associations, a joint committee comprising two elected and two co-opted members of the Executive Board shall be constituted, which shall arbitrate/mediate/facilitate amicable settlement. The decision of the joint committee shall be final and binding on the disputing factions.”

Olympian Pargat Singh, also a member of HI, said: “This is the final chance to correct the system. We must put an end to all legal battles”.

Mathur said that the IHF had been the victim and the IOA the villain in the creation of a new body. He said his federation was willing to bury differences. “We will be meeting the HI officials and try our best to reach a settlement,” he said.

The strength of the proposed Executive Board will be 33 in order to co-opt the 16 members from IHF. The IHF nominees will comprise one senior vice-president, six vice-presidents, four joint secretaries, and five executive members.

SOLE FEDERATION

After the settlement, HI would assume the status of the sole National federation for hockey in India. On the expiry of the tenure of the current management of HI, the size of the Executive Board will revert to the original strength of 17.

As soon as the expanded Executive comes into effect it will take steps to hold elections for the post of president which is vacant at present, by way of an interim arrangement in accordance with the constitution of HI.

Mr. Maken said the next elections of the new body would be held in 2014. “The elections would be transparent,” the minister assured.