Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Hockey India Strips Director General Srivastava of Powers
Hockey India has temporarily stopped its Director General, Cdr RK Srivastava, from using his official powers.
President Dilip Tirkey sent him a notice asking him to explain several alleged problems.
One issue was changing the national teams’ jerseys from blue to orange without getting the required approval.
Another issue was Srivastava traveling to the World Cup after being told to remain in India.
The notice also discusses the Hockey India League, player discipline, coach Craig Fulton and missing committee records.
It says some communications with international hockey organizations were not properly shared with Hockey India’s leadership.
Srivastava must hand over Hockey India’s files, records and access credentials.
He has four weeks to reply, and the notice does not yet declare him guilty or impose final punishment.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey issued Cdr RK Srivastava a show-cause notice and suspended his powers immediately.
The notice lists eight alleged areas of dereliction, including the national team jersey change and unauthorized World Cup travel.
Hockey India says the jersey was changed from blue to orange without approval or documented consultation with its President or Executive Committee.
Srivastava was ordered to hand over operational charge, records, credentials, assets and pending matters to a designated officer.
He has four weeks to respond, and the notice says it is not a final disciplinary decision or punishment.
- Who
- Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey issued the notice to Hockey India Director General Cdr RK Srivastava.
- What
- Hockey India initiated disciplinary proceedings, stripped Srivastava of his powers and ordered him to hand over operational responsibilities and records.
- When
- The action was announced on Saturday; Srivastava has four weeks from receiving the notice to respond.
- Where
- The notice was issued by Hockey India in New Delhi; the disputed World Cup travel involved venues in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Why
- The notice alleges dereliction of duty, wilful disobedience, an unauthorized jersey change, travel against instructions and other failures involving administration, discipline and communications.
Hockey India’s allegations
Srivastava’s position
Jersey change
Hockey India’s allegations
Hockey India alleges that the jersey was changed from blue to orange and launched without approval from the President or Executive Committee and without a complete documentary foundation.
Srivastava’s position
Srivastava’s response was not available in the articles; he was given four weeks to answer the allegation.
World Cup travel
Hockey India’s allegations
Hockey India says Srivastava disobeyed repeated instructions to remain in India and focus on the Hockey India League and related priorities.
Srivastava’s position
Srivastava’s explanation for traveling to the World Cup was not reported, and the notice remains subject to his reply.
Other administrative charges
Hockey India’s allegations
The notice alleges shortcomings involving a PR agency, player-misconduct proceedings, Craig Fulton, Vikram Pal records, umpire development and communications with international hockey bodies.
Srivastava’s position
No response from Srivastava was reported; Hockey India stated that the notice does not itself establish final guilt or impose final punishment.
- Issuing authority
- Dilip Tirkey, President of Hockey India
- Subject
- Cdr RK Srivastava, Director General of Hockey India
- Immediate action
- All of Srivastava’s operational, executive, administrative, financial, contractual, supervisory, signing, approval, disciplinary, media, communication and representational powers were suspended.
- Jersey allegation
- The national teams’ playing jersey was allegedly changed from traditional blue to orange and publicly launched without prior approval or documented consultation.
- World Cup allegation
- The notice alleges that Srivastava traveled to the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium despite instructions to remain in India for Hockey India League and other priority work.
- Response deadline
- Srivastava was given four weeks from receipt of the notice to submit a reply.
- Status of proceedings
- The notice says it is not a final determination of any charge or final disciplinary punishment.
- Handover requirement
- Srivastava was directed to transfer operational charge, records, files, access credentials, assets and pending matters to a person designated by the President’s Office.
