Legal bump ahead of HCA poll
Amid cloud over the January 17 elections to the Hyderabad Cricket Association initiated by the Ranga Reddy Court, former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin filed his nomination as president on Tuesday.
As many as 60 persons have submitted their candidature for six posts on the Justice Lodha-recommended Apex Council. Also, in a first, a lady member has entered the fray — P. Anuradha, wife of P. Yadagiri who had to demit office post the January 2 Supreme Court order for serving nine cumulative years as an office-bearer — has filed her nomination for all posts as of now, representing Shanti Club.
The last date for withdrawals is Thursday, when it will emerge which office she would run for.
As per Lodha panel recommendations, the ninemember Apex Council is to have six elected members — president, vice-president, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer and another ‘councillor’ to be elected by HCA members. Three other councillors are to be nominated — one each by male and female players associations and another nominated by the Comptroller & Auditor General.
Be that as it may, HCA secretary John Manoj says the very process of this election is flawed and will not stand in a court of law. They have already filed a petition in the High Court to stall it. The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing on Wednesday.
The polls have a bitter tinge given the incidents preceding it. On November 20 last year, the HCA unanimously adopted the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee recommendations at a Special General Meeting (SGM). However, after the SGM was called closed by then president Arshad Ayub, the rival camp went ahead with the meeting and appointed a three-member Adhoc Committee with vice-president Prakash Chand Jain as its chairman to hold elections.
The rival group subsequently moved the Ranga Reddy Court which allowed an interlocutory application petition filed by T. Sheshnarayan of the Bharat Cricket Club and appointed advocate K. Rajeev Reddy as commissioner to conduct elections. Later, Mr Reddy issued a notification dated 31-12-2016 to conduct elections to HCA’s Apex Council, “in consonance to the recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee and Supreme Court judgement and bye-laws of the Hyderabad Cricket Association.”
HCA officials say this is flagrant violation of the Supreme Court order. “As per the judgement of the Supreme Court at Para No. 33, the election process has to be conducted by an Election Officer who is a retired Central or respective State Election Commissioner,” they contend.
“In the event that no such person is available, any other former State Election Commissioner, preferably from a neighbouring state may be appointed. This Officer would conduct and supervise the entire process of elections from the filing of nominations to the declaration of results and the resolution of any disputes and objections during the election,” they quote from the Supreme Court order.
“The order passed by the Vth Additional District & Sessions Judge, Ranga Reddy District, in appointing an Advocate Commissioner to conduct the elections to the HCA is in contravention of the Supreme Court judgement. This is a fraud played on the lower court by the selfappointed Adhoc Committee,” HCA executive committee member and legal head Adnan Mehmood told reporters on Tuesday.
“Mr Prakash Chand Jain has filed a vakalat on behalf of the Hyderabad Cricket Association illegally and unlawfully and given his consent wrongly for conducting the elections. As per the Memorandum, Rules & Regulations of the HCA only the Secretary can represent the Association,” secretary John Manoj added.
Even as most of them have filed their nominations as well, the ruling group contend that the HCA constitution will need to be amended in tune with the Supreme Court’s ruling before elections are conducted.
HCA officials want to wait till January 19 when the Supreme Court will nominate persons on a committee of administrators that will supervise the running of BCCI, for further course of action.
The Supreme Court has started the process of cleaning up the game and I feel it’s the right time to do something for the improvement of cricket in the State. Hyderabad cricket has suffered a lot in the last two decades. I don’t want to name anyone but unfortunately things haven’t been too well. HCA cannot be run on the whims and fancies of individuals.
I am sure everyone will rally around me. The clubs too are interested in the development of cricket. My intention is to work with all in making things better. I have been thinking about it for the last 6-7 months.
I want to improve cricket at the district level because lot of hardworking players come from districts. We have produced so many great players but now we don’t have players in the Indian team. My intention is to work hard for the game of cricket.
— MOHAMMAD AZHARUDDIN