Jaipur: In a significant development in the prolonged governance dispute within the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), the Rajasthan High Court has suspended the Association’s Ad Hoc Committee with immediate effect and appointed Rajasthan Home Secretary IAS Bhaskar A. Sawant as the interim in-charge of the cricket body.
The order was passed by a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice S.P. Sharma while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that challenged the continued functioning of the Ad Hoc Committee beyond its originally mandated tenure. The court also sought an explanation from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies over the failure to conduct elections within the prescribed timeline and questioned why contempt proceedings should not be initiated.
Court Acts on PIL Challenging Continued Extension of Ad Hoc Committee
The matter came up during the hearing of a PIL filed by Rajiv Pratap Singh, who argued that the Ad Hoc Committee constituted on June 29, 2024, was meant to function only as a temporary arrangement.
According to the petition, the committee had been entrusted with the sole responsibility of conducting elections for the Rajasthan Cricket Association within three months of its formation. However, despite the lapse of the stipulated period, elections were never conducted.
Instead, the petitioner contended, the tenure of the Ad Hoc Committee was repeatedly extended, preventing the formation of a democratically elected executive body to govern the Association.
The PIL further alleged that the repeated extensions violated the spirit of the High Court’s earlier directions and undermined the administrative framework governing the Association.
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High Court Questions Delay in Conducting RCA Elections
During the proceedings, the Division Bench took serious note of the prolonged delay in holding elections.
The court observed that the committee had failed to complete the task assigned to it within the prescribed timeframe and questioned the continued reliance on an interim arrangement.
It also directed the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to submit a response explaining why elections were not conducted despite clear timelines and why the temporary committee continued to function beyond its original mandate.
The High Court further asked why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the Registrar for the apparent non-compliance with the court’s earlier directions regarding the conduct of elections.
IAS Bhaskar A. Sawant Given Interim Charge of RCA
To ensure that the Association’s day-to-day functioning remains unaffected, the High Court appointed IAS Bhaskar A. Sawant, currently serving as Rajasthan’s Home Secretary, as the interim in-charge of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
Sawant will oversee the administrative affairs of the Association under the court’s interim arrangement until further orders.
His immediate responsibility is expected to include ensuring smooth administration while facilitating the process for conducting elections in accordance with the applicable rules and legal framework.
Long-Standing Governance Dispute
The Rajasthan Cricket Association has been witnessing administrative uncertainty for an extended period due to delays in constituting a regular elected body.
The Ad Hoc Committee was originally established as a temporary mechanism to manage the Association’s affairs and organise elections within a fixed timeframe. However, repeated extensions of its tenure became a matter of legal challenge, with concerns being raised over the absence of democratic governance within the Association.
The latest order is being viewed as a significant judicial intervention aimed at restoring regular administration and expediting the election process.
Elections Likely to Gain Momentum
With the suspension of the Ad Hoc Committee and the appointment of an independent senior IAS officer to oversee the Association’s affairs, stakeholders believe that the long-pending election process may now move forward more swiftly.
The High Court’s decision is expected to bring greater administrative accountability while paving the way for the constitution of a duly elected executive body to manage the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
