India, Sept. 21 -- In what could come as a major setback to the Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO), the Electoral Officer appointed to oversee its elections has put the election process on hold, seeking guidance from Hockey India on serious questions relating to the constitution and governance of several district units.

In a report submitted to the Hockey India President and Secretary General, sources said, Electoral Officer Anjani Kumar Mishra, IAS (Retd.), has raised questions over whether several permanent affiliated district units have governing bodies constituted through duly conducted, fair and democratic elections.

The report, sources added, records that, in several districts, Collectors, District Magistrates, Additional District...