Ministry issues show cause notice to HI,IHF

The twists and turns in Indian hockey dont seem to end. If one thought the Supreme Courts order allowing Hockey India to conduct their elections was the final word in the hockey saga,that was not to be....

The twists and turns in Indian hockey dont seem to end. If one thought the Supreme Courts order allowing Hockey India to conduct their elections was the final word in the hockey saga,that was not to be. On Monday,the Sports Ministry issued show cause notices to both Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation,seeking explanations on their respective organisations.

Seeking clarifications from both HI and the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation,the ministry wanted to know how they propose to meet the government guidelines to run the sport in the country. The notice to HI slams the federation for not following government guidelines,asking it to explain before Thursday’s elections as to why it should not be de-recognised by the ministry.

The notice,issued to HI interim president Vidya Stokes and secretary general Narinder Batra,has warned that if the national federation fails to provide a satisfactory answer before its elections,the government’s provisional recognition will be automatically withdrawn.

The Sports Ministry has carefully studied the orders passed by the Delhi High Courts and the Supreme Court and has noted that HI is holding its elections as a private body on the basis of its own set of rules and bye-laws. In view of the private body status of the HI being accepted by the Honourable Supreme Court,you are hereby called upon to explain before the date of elections as to why the provisional recognition granted to HI by the Sports Ministry,shall not be withdrawn with immediate effect, the notice said. It also states that HI had accepted before the Delhi High Court that it was a private body and not inclined to accept government grants or recognition.

Failure to furnish a satisfactory reply within the time limit stated above will automatically result in withdrawal of recognition to HI as a National Sports Federation for hockey in India, it added.

In a separate notice to IHF,the ministry has given the KPS Gill-led body 14 days to explain as to how it proposes to meet the FIH as well as government’s guidelines if it wishes to run the sport in the country.

You are called upon to explain as to how you propose to meet the requirements of FIH of having a unified body for both men and women at the national level so as to obtain FIHs membership and be able to discharge all the responsibilities of a recognised NSF,including representing India in international competition recognised by FIH, the notice read.

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In the event of not responding to this notice within the time limit,it shall be deemed that you have nothing to state on this matter, it added.

HI had moved the Supreme Court against stay orders by the Delhi and Mumbai High Courts and got the go-ahead to hold its elections,without implementing the results till a final judgement on August 19.