Sports Ministry opposes Mander's appointment for HI elections

The Sports Ministry on Tuesday objected to GS Mander's appointment as the Returning Officer for next month's Hockey India elections, saying no one from either HI or the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) could be part of the electoral process.

"GS Mander heads the Wrestling Federation of India and is also an IOA vice president and government has already made it clear that no one from either Hockey India or IOA should be part of the electoral process," S K Mendiratta, a government-appointed observer for HI elections, said on Tuesday.

Mendiratta has already pointed it out in his letter to HI and the Sports Ministry is also writing a similar letter.

In his letter, Mendiratta also shed light on who could be authorised to represent the state units in the February 7 elections.

"There seems to have some confusion about that. I have gone through HI constitution and it's clear that one male and a female member of a state unit can be authorised to represent the state body. But they have to be members of that unit. No state unit can authorise a non-member or outsider to represent them in the Annual General Meeting," Mendiratta explained.