New Delhi, 13 September (H.S.): Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the organisation’s Director General, Commander RK Srivastava, and issued him a show-cause notice. He has also been directed to immediately cease exercising all duties and powers associated with the position of Director General, with immediate effect.

The show-cause notice levels several allegations against Srivastava, including dereliction of duty and deliberate disobedience of instructions. A key allegation concerns the decision to change the colours of the national team’s jersey ahead of the World Cup without prior approval.

According to the notice, objections have also been raised over Srivastava’s proposed travel to the World Cup despite clear instructions from Tirkey. The President’s Office had approved former players Subhadra Pradhan, Rani Rampal and Sardar Singh to travel in their capacities as selectors and a junior coach in his place. However, the notice states that Srivastava was not informed of this decision.

Srivastava has also been accused of allegedly taking arbitrary decisions concerning franchise coordination for the Hockey India League and other priority assignments. In addition, the notice accuses him of failing to initiate disciplinary action against the contracted public relations agency and of not providing evidence of action taken on complaints of alleged misconduct involving players and head coach Craig Fulton during the South Africa tour.

The notice also refers to the absence from the records of proceedings and a report of the Internal/POSH Committee concerning allegations related to Vikram Pal. It further mentions the alleged withholding of certain communications received from the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and national federations.

Hockey India said that further action would be taken in accordance with the organisation’s bylaws. Srivastava has been directed to hand over all official records, documents, files, access credentials, assets and operational charge of pending matters to an officer designated by the President’s Office.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar