Published>Tue, Jul 20 10 05:37 AM
The Sport Ministry is once again on a collision course with a sports federation. After the Badminton Association of India (BAI), Hockey India (HI) too is all set defy the Ministry's guidelines that put a cap on the age and tenure of office bearers.
The 83-year-old HI president Vidya Stokes, while disregarding Sports Ministry's guideline that put an age limit of 70 on sports officials, made it clear on Monday that she will contest the national hockey body's election on July 28.
Stokes has written to the returning officer this regard. "We are not in agreement as we are a society formed under the Society's Registration Act, 1860 and hence having our own constitution and election guidelines," she said. Stokes also warned of legal action in case of government interference in the election process.
Meanwhile, in a related development the government observer, SK Mendiratta, in letter to the Returning Officer, Justice RC Chopra, said that the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) given by the ministry for the elections was conditional on the federation accepting the government guidelines on elections to NSFs. The letter states clearly, though the tenure limitations do not apply in this case, the age restrictions will have to be observed.
"Obviously, the restrictions relating to number of terms of office would not apply in the case of the present election, this being the first election of office bearers of Hockey India...The age restrictions with regard to the President, Secretary General and Treasurer shall be applicable in relation to the present elections," Mendiratta wrote.
Though the returning officer was unavailable for comments, sources close to him said that any decision will only be taken during the scrutiny of nominations on Tuesday morning. "The government observer will also be there, as will be representatives from the candidates and most of the candidates themselves. Justice Chopra will decide only then," a source said.
In case Stokes is disqualified, it will pave the way for former India captain and Olympian Pargat Singh to be the president. When contacted, Pargat remained non-committal. "We will have to wait and see what the returning officer decides tomorrow. If he decides to reject the nomination, then we will see what next," he said.
If elected, Pargat would be the first sportsman to take charge of the sport.
If HI decides to go ahead with elections disregarding the government guidelines, it may further complicate matters for the sport, already struggling with two governing bodies (IHF and HI). In which case, violating the ministry's directions may affect HI's chances to retaining administrative powers.
Source: Web Search
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