Accusing Indian Hockey Federation president K P S Gill of violating government norms, senior IHF vice-president Narinder Batra threatened to take legal action if Gill does not step down immediately.

Batra said Gill as well as IHF secretary-General K Jothikumaran are into their third terms, which is in clear violation of the government's guidelines.

"Government guidelines make it clear that no one should stay in these posts consecutively for over two terms or eight years. But they are into their third terms and 11th year. I don't understand how are they still continuing," Batra told newspersons in Delhi on Monday.

"It's the duty of the Sports Ministry to ensure that the federations follow government norms. But is it sleeping? If the two do not resign immediately, I will go to court next week. I will also make the Sports Ministry a party."

Batra alleged serious irregularities in the functioning of the IHF and said the federation, in the last several years, had hardly done anything for the promotion of the game in the country.

"I am sure if we conduct a poll, 95 per cent of people would say they are unhappy with the working of the federation.

"The selection committee is not meeting regularly, probably they have not met since the Olympics [Images]. IHF office-bearers were not taken into confidence when Gerhard Rach was appointed the coach. I don't even know how he was selected," Batra said.

"Players are living in fear. They are always apprehensive about their places in the side. We have staged the nationals just once in the last eight years. This shows how much serious the federation is about hockey," he added.

He said the IHF is violating the "conditionalities which it must fulfill if it wished to avail of government support".

"We are following the conditions while taking money but not after that. IHF is bound by government guidelines as it is getting assistance from it.

"When I raised the matter, Jothikumaran said 'we are recognised by the Indian Olympic Association and affiliated to them'. Then why IHF is taking assistance from the government. The Sports Ministry's silence over the matter is also baffling."

Batra said the IHF is a "fit case" for suspension of recognition for failing to follow the government conditionalities.

"We are failing every year to submit the annual audited accounts. I am an office-bearer but I have not got any clarification on management of accounts despite writing to them," he said.

Batra said he is expecting support from some state hockey associations and senior IHF office-bearers in his "Gill ouster" campaign.

"We need a change badly. We need people with fresh ideas, new thinking to lead the federation. Such people should take over the mantle of IHF immediately."

Batra said he would raise the issue at IHF's next General Body Meeting, to beheld in Hyderabad on January 30.

• Complete hockey coverage