Another body raises concerns over Goans Hockey election

PANAJI
The Hockey North Goa District Association (HNGDA) has challenged the September 30 Goans Hockey elections, with the latest development coming amid questions already raised over the eligibility of the elected president and the procedure followed for the poll.
In its October 5 letter to the president and secretary general of Goans Hockey, HNGDA alleged that it was excluded from the electoral process and stripped of its voting rights without notice or an opportunity to be heard. HNGDA secretary Candida Fernandes sought restoration of the association's affiliation and voting rights and said the elections and appointments arising from them should be treated as “null and void ab initio”.
HNGDA said it learnt about the elections and its alleged exclusion through newspaper reports published on October 1. It claimed that it had not received an election notice, electoral roll, show-cause notice, hearing notice or order communicating any decision to remove its voting rights.
The association has sought details of the authority and constitutional provision under which it was allegedly debarred, along with the relevant resolution, minutes, voting record and copies of communications purportedly sent to it. HNGDA has also questioned the validity of a new constitution which it says was adopted by Goans Hockey at an Emergent General Council meeting on September 9. It alleged that there was no recorded vote count, dissent was recorded and necessary approvals were not on record.
It has given Goans Hockey seven days to respond and sought fresh elections under an independent Returning Officer. HNGDA said it may approach Hockey India, the Sports Authority of Goa, Registrar of Societies and the High Court of Bombay at Goa if its demands are not addressed.