Supreme Court Appoints Former Judge Nageswara Rao To Oversee Election Of Hyderabad Cricket Association

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, appointed retired Supreme Court judge, Justice L. Nageswara Rao as a single-member committee to oversee the process of election of the Hyderabad Cricket Association.

Sr. Advocate Jayant Bhushan pointed out that the election has not been conducted and in the meantime the 3-year term of the supervisory committee is over. He submitted that at present, the previous president of the Association, Mohd Azharuddin is running it with the aid of one or two other people.

A Bench comprising Justice S.K. Kaul, Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Aravind Kumar was of the opinion that some method of conducting election has to be devised. In this regard, Senior Advocate, Mr. Siddhartha Dave suggested if the election can be conducted under the supervision of Justice Rao.

“If it can be under the aegis of Justice Rao. Let the electoral college be constituted under him. Let it be under his supervision.”

Justice Kaul enquired, “Has anybody checked with his willingness?”

Mr. Bhushan submitted, “If there are several persons and he is one in a committee, that might not be acceptable to him. But, if he is the only person he is willing.”

Accordingly, the Bench appointed Justice Rao -

“We are of the view that the impasse must be broken and elections held, which was the original objective…Now the question is how to ensure that fair and proper election is held so that the matter can be put to rest…This court is of the view that justice Nageswar Rao, retired judge of this court would be the most appropriate person to be appointed as the single member committee to sort out this mess..”

The Bench made it clear that it was open to the retired judge to seek assistance from whichever authorities he thinks fit. Moreover, it was categorically mentioned in the order that the expenses would be paid by the Hyderabad Cricket Association. It further noted -

“If the judge needs some directions from this court the matter be placed before us limited for that purpose. Needless to say that the Association will render all necessary support for the Ld. Judge to carry out the exercise.”

All signing powers were also assigned to the retired Judge.

After dictating the order, Justice Kaul remarked, “We have given all power to him, But, please assist him. Don’t leave the whole burden on him.”

At the submission of Mr. Bhushan that it is recorded in the order that the ‘supervisory committee should go now’, the Bench clarified that the said committee will no longer survive.

Justice Kaul was quite disappointed that all sports associations in the country are before Constitutional Courts. He reckoned, “Every Association of sports is litigating instead of doing sports.”

The matter is next listed for hearing on 2nd March, 2023.

In September, last year, the Apex Court had also appointed Justice Nageswara Rao, to take over the process of amending the constitution of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), preparing its electoral rolls; and conducting elections to its executive body.

[Case Title: Hyderabad Cricket Association v. Chairman Cricket Club And Anr. SLP(C) No. 6779/2021]

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