No court relief for HCA officer

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday refused to stay the orders of the Ombudsman of the BCCI disqualifying Mr G. Vivekananda from the post of the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy was dealing with the petition by Mr Vivekananda seeking to stay the order of the Ombudsman as it was issued without giving an opportunity to him being heard which he said was against the principles of natural justice.

The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday refused to stay the orders of the Ombudsman of the BCCI disqualifying Mr G. Vivekananda from the post of the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association.

Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy was dealing with the petition by Mr Vivekananda seeking to stay the order of the Ombudsman as it was issued without giving an opportunity to him being heard which he said was against the principles of natural justice.

The judge said that the Ombudsman rightly disqualified the petitioner on account of a commercial contract between M/s Visakha Industries, of which he is a director, and the HCA. He also stands disqualified from holding the office of president of the HCA, on account of his appointment as an adviser to the Telangana government.

The judge pointed out that the petitioner has not denied that he is the director of the Visakha Industries.

The judge noted that though the petitioner is not drawing the salary as an adviser to the government, the other facilities he was enjoying under the Cabinet would fall under the conflict of interest.

The judge said that as per the recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee, the disqualification will be applicable to the petitioner and he could have approached the district court under the Cooperative Society’s Act instead moving the High Court.

The judge also dismissed the plea of the petitioner to direct the Hyderabad Cricket Association not to hold the elections in view of pending dispute pertaining to his disqualification.