In a major development late on Saturday evening, Hockey India Director General Cdr. RK Srivastava was divested of all authority and responsibilities, ordered immediate cessation of functions and served notice to explain repeated instances of disobedience and non-compliance with presidential directives.

“In the interest of maintaining discipline, accountability and the smooth functioning of Hockey India, we hereby inform you that, with immediate effect, all your powers as Director General of Hockey India cease, and you shall not exercise any authority or act on behalf of Hockey India pending further decision in accordance with the Hockey India Bye-Laws. You are further directed to hand over complete operational charge, together with all official records, documents, files, official access credentials, assets and pending matters, to such officer/person as may be designated in writing by the President’s Office…,” the legal notice served to Srivastava on behalf of HI president Dilip Tirkey stated, a copy of which is with Sportstar.

While the notice mentions several instances dating back to the beginning of the year, the immediate trigger has been Srivastava’s travel to the recent World Cup despite explicit and repeated directions from Tirkey against it, citing franchise coordination and priority work regarding the Hockey India League. It also mentions that the president had instead approved of Subhadra Pradhan, Rani Rampal and Sardar Singh as selectors and junior coaches for travel but none were informed. “The non-compliance on your part was a direct insult to, and disobedience of, the office of the President, Hockey India,” it states.

ALSO READ | Propriety, procedure and internal cracks — Saffron jersey change leaves Hockey India officials red-faced

Among other charges of dereliction of duty or wilful disobedience, the notice mentions the arbitrary decision on changing the national team’s jersey without prior consultation or clearance ahead of the World Cup, non-execution of directed disciplinary action against the contracted PR agency Wordswork, non-submission of proof for action taken against concerned players and chief coach Craig Fulton on reports of misdemeanour during South African tour in December last, non-availability on record of the internal/POSH committee proceedings and report on allegations against Vikram Pal and withholding communications from the FIH/AHF/national federations.

“…Together they prima facie raise serious and recurring questions of executive accountability… In view of the seriousness of the matters and the continuing need to protect Hockey India’s records, personnel and functioning, all authority delegated to or ordinarily exercised through you as Director General shall remain in abeyance with immediate effect and, as an ad-interim protective measure, you shall cease to discharge the functions of Director General pending further consideration and decision by the Executive Committee,” the notice states.

“Accordingly, you shall not exercise any operational, executive, administrative, financial, contractual, supervisory, signing, approval, disciplinary, media, communication or representational authority ordinarily exercised by you in your capacity as Director General,” it adds. Srivastava has been asked to reply within four weeks with documentary evidence with possible further action in the absence of any according to Hockey India Bye-Laws.

Published on Sep 12, 2026