BCCI for JKCA elections under supervision

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 30: As the term of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association has expired, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) submitted before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for holding of next elections of Association under the supervision of an Administrator.
Hearing at length a battery of lawyers representing both factions of JKCA, one led by Minister for Youth and Sports Imran Raza Ansari and another by Dr Farooq Abdullah, Member Parliament, as also counsel representing BCCI, the Court of Justice Alok Aradhe heard in part the bunch of petitions and will hear these petition again in the next weekfor further consideration.
Both factions of JKCA are contesting various cases before the Courts including High Court for claiming the rightful and legitimate office bearers of the Association and due to the dispute between two factions claiming to be the office bearers of the Association and it has led to the suffering of cricket in the State.
Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi on behalf of BCCI submitted before the Court that board has no objection to the appointment of Administrator for holding next elections for the Association. “…the person to be appointed as Administrator should be of undoubted honesty and integrity, preferably a retired Judge of Supreme Court or retired Chief Justice or retired Judge of High Court”, Rahul Johri Chief Executive Officer of BCCI submitted in his reply.
Sethi further added that the constitution of JKCA should be amended in due deference  to the Lodha Committee recommendation and as per the orders of Supreme court as the Board (BCCI) is very serious in implementing the Lodha Committee’s report for the betterment of the administration in the sports of cricket.
The appointment of Administrator for holding and electing the body of JKCA has been suggested in view of dispute between the member of JKCA and series of litigation claiming therein to be the actual office bearers of the Association which are pending before High Court and other courts filed by Ansari and Abdullah factions.
BCCI further informed the Court that presently none of the factions is existing and there is no provision in the constitution of JKCA qua continuation of office bearers beyond the term, even for holding the elections.
Petitioners submitted that JKCA has been infamous for sometime about the in fight between various political groups and the result of such rivalries has led to compromise in nurturing the vast and raw talent of the youth of the State.
“Cricket being the only secular unifying religion in our heterogeneous country forced the Supreme Court to constitute a committee under former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha to recommend reforms for cricket in India, Lodha committee after a thorough study of the BCCI’s and State Associations functioning presented its recommendations to the Supreme Court”, the petition read.
Supreme Court ruled in favour of the majority of the Committee’s recommendations and directed the BCCI and State Associations to implement said recommendations as per the guidelines framed by the Lodha committee.
Supreme Court, the petitioners said, by its further orders sacked the higher echelons of the JKCA, leaving JKCA in total chaos, which has made the petitioners to suffer of no fault of theirs.
It is mentioned here that Supreme Court constituted a committee under its former Chief Justice to recommend reforms for cricket in India and determine punishments for those accused by the Mudgal Committee and directed the Lodha Committee would oversee the transition and help to implement the reforms.
Petitioners alleged that the working committee of JKCA elects various office bearers against the orders of Supreme Court and despite the order of Supreme Court whereby JKCA elected members have been sacked and the second deadline issued by Lodha panel and declared that by November 2016 State Associations should appoint new electoral office.
In 2014 after PDP-BJP coalition Government came into power, the Ansari led faction throw out the Abdullah led faction from holding the office of Association and took over the charge of the Association resulting into filing of numerous litigation before the court of law claiming to be the genuine officer bearers of the Association.
Besides other conditions laid down in the Lodha recommendation a candidates appointment for any post in Cricket Association must not hold any portfolio in Government, must not be above the age of 70 years and must not be convicted by any court of law in any case.

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