New Delhi, Nov 14 (PTI) Former Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra has raised objections to the manner in which Hockey India (HI) nominated its two representatives to the IOA General Assembly for the December 5 polls, alleging a lack of transparency in the exercise.
HI had named its secretary general Bhola Nath Singh and former India player Joydeep Kaur as the respective male and female representatives for the IOA elections. The IOA's General Assembly members can vote and stand as candidates for the Executive Council elections.
Batra, who also served as HI president from 2014-16 and International Hockey Federation chief from 2016-22, contended that "no formal Executive Committee meeting was convened for consideration and approval of these nominations".
He also said the "selection process appears to have been restricted to two names without any demonstrated independent consideration of other eligible representatives".
"The entire exercise was conducted through telephone calls followed by electronic responses. Only the names of Shri Bholanath Singh and Ms. Joydeep Kaur emerged from this exercise," Batra said in the letter written to IOA Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Srivastava on Friday.
"This sequence raises a serious question as to whether the selection was the outcome of a genuine and transparent institutional decision or whether the process was effectively reduced to obtaining electronic endorsements for two predetermined names.
"An invitation to propose names cannot automatically become a valid institutional resolution merely because certain members subsequently respond to telephone requests and emails."
Batra admitted the HI Bye-Laws allow decisions to be taken through circulation by email, courier or post in urgent matters where a meeting cannot be convened, but said consent of the president is necessary in such cases.
"A majority of the members must favour the proposal. Executive Committee members must be given seven days from circulation
to assent or dissent. These are express constitutional requirements and cannot be dispensed with for administrative convenience.
"In the present case, there is serious reason to question whether the Secretary General obtained the prior consent of the President, Dr. Dilip Kumar Tirkey before initiating the process."
Batra said HI should be knowing its representatives would have to be named to the IOA General Body for elections, which was notified last month (October 7). He suggested that HI had enough time to choose two nominees well in advance and according to procedure.
He requested EO Srivastava that Hockey India be directed "to produce the complete original email correspondence relating to the nomination exercise".
"Documentary proof of the President's prior consent under Clause 16.5.3 is obtained. The complete list of eligible voting members, individual electronic responses and their respective dates and times is obtained. It is determined whether the requisite majority was actually obtained before the purported resolution was acted upon.
"Hockey India is required to explain why no formal or emergent virtual Executive Committee meeting was convened. It is examined whether the selection process involved genuine consideration of eligible representatives or whether the two names were effectively
predetermined."
Objection to nomination of PT Usha from ice hockey, Harpal Singh from Ski and Snowboard
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In another letter, Batra also objected to the nomination of current IOA President PT Usha and Executive Committee member Harpal Singh from Ice Hockey Association of India and Ski and Snowboard India.
He requested IOA EO Srivastava to verify Usha's original membership application, the date on which she was admitted as a member of Ice Hockey Association of India, the category of membership under which she was admitted and the specific provision of IHAI's constitution under which such membership was granted.
"The resolution of the competent body approving her membership, the relevant entry in the organization's official membership register, and the original nomination and organization resolution of the competent governing body (should be verified)," Batra wrote.
He also requested Srivastava "to independently verify the legal status and recognition of the Ice Hockey Association of India, its affiliation with the relevant international federation, its current Constitution, membership register, audited accounts, latest General Body proceedings and, importantly the resolution authorising the nomination of Mrs. P.T. Usha".
Objecting to Harpal Singh's nomination from Ski and Snowboard India, Batra wrote, "His inclusion raises questions concerning the organization's present statutory entitlement, his precise membership category his authority to represent the organization and his eligibility under the relevant constitutional provisions."
"... examine his original membership application, admission and ratification resolution, membership-register entry...."
The Electoral Officer will publish the final electoral roll on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Srivastava issued the Model Code of Conduct -- almost the same as that applied in SOM elections -- which comes into force with immediate effect.
No criticism of opponents' "private lives", bar on all forms of publicity, including use of new media and social networks, and requirement for IOA and NSF office-bearers to maintain neutrality feature in the Code of Conduct.
The Executive Committee members have been asked not to use their official position for election campaign and not to use "official transport including vehicles, machinery and personnel."
"... voting members are prohibited individually or collectively, from announcing publicly, in any form whatsoever, their intention to vote or not vote for a candidate."
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)