HI panel draws no conclusions

Published>Sat, Jul 24 10 05:23 AM

The four-member enquiry committee formed to look into the charges of sexual harassment against former national women's hockey chief coach MK Kaushik completed its report on Friday and submitted it to Hockey India. Though it was expected to state their recommendations on the case in the report, sources said the committee had only given a factual account of the case, citing both the complainant's and the defendant's written explanations, without drawing any conclusions.

The panel comprised of Sudarshan Pathak, Hockey India member Rajiv Mehta and government observers Zafar Iqbal and Ajitpal Singh. Chairman of the inquiry panel Mehta said the committee received testimonies from both the parties ? Kaushik and complainant Ranjitha Devi ? and no other evidences were required. "We have had lots of testimonies from both the parties as well some other players and manager of the team Madhu Yadav and we don't need to talk to any individual further. We have given our report," he said.

Sources said the panel had only stated the facts of the case. Citing the Supreme Court judgement in the Vishakha vs state of Rajasthan case, the panel claimed inability to take or even recommend any action. "The onus is now on the sports ministry and the Sports Authority of India to take any action they deem fit, since Kaushik is on deputation with them. The enquiry committee has only submitted its findings without expressing its own views," a source said.

For its part, Hockey India said it would forward the report to the Sports Authority of India for any further action. "We have received the report from the committee. We will study and discuss the report thoroughly and accordingly give our recommendations and submit it to SAI tomorrow," HI secretary general Narinder Batra said. However, sources said that the report had, in fact, been already submitted to the SAI officials, who in turn had sent it further to the Sports Ministry. "With the weekend coming up, they had to do it today only, otherwise it would have been delayed till Monday. So it was decided to hand over the report today itself," a Hockey India source said.

However, there is still no clarity on who would be the final deciding authority on the entire issue. A ministry official said: "The SAI also reports to the ministry only. But the ministry has its own committee to look into such matters also. Once we see the entire report and go through it, we will decide whether the ministry should look into it or ask SAI to constitute its own probe committee. Whatever happens, it will be in line with the Supreme Court guidelines."

Source: Web Search