The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has warned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it could seek “criminal prosecution” in case “any ad hoc committee is formed/attempted to be formed” for handling cricket affairs in the State.
In a letter addressed to Messrs Shivlal Yadav, Sanjay Patel, Brijesh Patel and Amrit Mathur, the RCA Deputy President Mehmood M. Abdi mentioned that the RCA was governed by the Rajasthan Sports Act 2005 and the formation of the ad hoc committee was a breach of a provision of the Act.
He reproduced Section 25 of the Act that states, “no person or group of persons either individually or collectively shall represent or be allowed to represent the State of Rajasthan in any games or sports without being authorized by a State level Sports Association.”
Mr. Abdi further said, “The court working in Rajasthan have been severely hampered for last one month due to long drawn out lawyers’ strike in Rajasthan. Otherwise, BCCI’s application opposing the court proceedings against suspension would in all likelihood been heard up till now. But pending hearing of such application, the BCCI cannot go back on its written and affirmed replies filed in the trial court as that would amount to both misleading the court as also breach of undertaking for which RCA reserves the right to take independent action including initiating contempt proceedings.”
Citing a precedence involving the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Abdi pointed out, “even though the AIFF constitution provided for formation of ad hoc Committee in State Associations by a resolution passed for creation of such committee by the General Body of AIFF, theformation of such an ad hoc body by AIFF in Rajasthan was declared illegal by the Registrar Societies as being contrary to Rajasthan Sports Act and continued recognition was given to Rajasthan State Football Association.”
He further said, “There is not even a provision in the BCCI Constitution (unlike AIFF’s constitution) which permits the formation of any ad hoc committee/body in any member association.”
