A Division Bench of the Hyderabad High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akther on Thursday appointed a retired Judge of the Supreme Court and a former judge of the High Court to act as administrators to manage the affairs of Hyderabad Cricket Association in view of forthcoming IPL matches. These administrators will ensure effective implementation of the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee recommendations.
Justice Anil R Dave, former Judge of the Supreme court who was Chief Justice here along with Justice G. V. Seethapathy, a former judge of this court, are now administrators.
These orders were passed in a miscellaneous petition filed by the BCCI. The BCCI had given details of latest tussle and status of affairs of the HCA and requested the court to appoint administrator or observer.
The Bench was dealing with a PIL filed by Govind Reddy, advocate and cricketer . He wanted the court to take note of the affairs of the HCA and sought directions to ensure that the recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee were completely implemented. While the hearing in the PIL was taking place, the BCCI filed the present miscellaneous petitions and suggested these names.
HCA affairs
The Bench on Thursday said that these two administrators would exercise overall control of the HCA and manage its affairs. The administrators were to be assisted by the elected body of the HCA. The Bench said the outcome of pending Civil Revision Petition (CRP) would decide who the elected committee was. One set of people claim that they were elected in 2014 September and their term concludes in May 2017 by virtue of the amendment to the bylaws.
Elections to the executive committee of the HCA were held in January 2017 by virtue of an order of the civil court.
This election process was challenged and a batch of civil revision petitions were field. The elected committee which depends on the outcome of the result in this CRP would assist the administrators.
Both administrators shall, on behalf of HCA, enter into tripartite agreement with the HCA and the franchisee.
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Administrators’ role
It was for the administrators to file an application before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the BCCI to release such funds as were necessary for conducting the matches scheduled to be held in Hyderabad during IPL 2017 cricket season, and thereafter.
It is open to the administrators to move the court for modification of the orders passed, or to seek any clarification which they may consider necessary.
The expenditure was to be met from the funds available with the HCA.
Both administrators shall appoint a financial advisor, in consultation with the Committee of Administrators of the BCCI, to assist them during the entire IPL 2017 cricket season.
The administrators were requested to submit their report regarding the steps taken by them to ensure smooth conduct of the IPL matches.
