New Delhi:
As the IHF and IWHF prepare to merge to strengthen their chances of getting recognition from the game's world governing body, questions were on Wednesday raised on whether the amalgamation would be legal.
A hockey fan in a letter to Prime Minister's office, sport ministry and several other organisation has raised as many as nine questions seeking to highlight the anomalies in the amalgamation process.
The hockey fan asked the sport ministry if various sections of the Societies Registration Act 1860 are being followed in the truest sense in the IHF-IWHF merger.
"Is section 12 of the Societies Registration Act 1860 being followed strictly or a mockery is being made of it by GOI MYAS, IHF and so called IWHF, regarding amalgamation," he enquired.
"Are IHF and so called IWHF complaint of section 4 of societies Registration Act? Has GOI MYAS made any effort to find out the facts?" he wrote in his letter.
The fan also questioned the competence of IHF and IWHF to take decisions as both the body have expired their term since their last elections.
"Is IHF an elected body? Last election of IHF took place in year 2004 and it is 2010 now, the term of present body ended in 2008. Is this unelected body competent to take decisions?
"Is so called IWHF an elected body? Last election of so called IWHF took place in year 2003 and it is 2010 now, the term of present body ended in 2007, is this present unelected body competent to take decisions?
"Ms Vidya Stokes was the president of the Last elected body of so called IWHF in 2003, so when and by whom and in which AGM was Ms Vidya stokes replaced as president by Ms K Atmaram, because AGM or special AGM can only be called by the Present and not any Dummy President Ms K Atmaram. Has GOI MYAS bothered to look into it?" he wrote.
The fan also raised doubts on the conduct of the sport ministry and asked if it is indulging in forgery in connivance with the IHF and IWHF.
"Notice for meeting for amalgamation is given by IHF and so called IWHF dated 2 August 2010, while GOI MYAS gives affidavit for amalgamation in court on 9th August 2010, is GOI MYAS part of this back dated fraud?" he asked in the letter.
The Sport Ministry recently withdrew its provisional recognition from Hockey India (HI) and recognised KPS Gill-led IHF and also asked the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to follow suit.
But FIH made it clear that HI is the sole body to run the game in India and said it can't recognise IHF as it doesn't comply with its charter.
The Sport Ministry in its reply assured the FIH that within 8-12 weeks, IHF will fully comply with the governing body's statutes.