Telangana High Court Sets Aside HCA Appointments

Hyderabad: In yet another major setback to Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) top brass, the Telangana High Court set aside the appointment of staff and coaches including that of former India cricketer B.K. Venkatesh Prasad as consultant for cricket operations and game development, The HCA had sidelined the Hyderabad Cricket Academy of Excellence (HCAE), a high-quality cricket coaching academy having dedicated coaches and a director, to bring in a new team.

Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka of the Telangana High Court passed the order in a petition filed by HCA vice-president Sardar Daljeet Singh, joint secretary T. Basava Raju, ICA male representative R.A. Swaroop and ICA female representative Vanka Roma Singh,, who contended that the appointments were in violation of the bylaws, rules and regulations of the HCA.

The court in its order directed the recovery of the amount paid to the new team from the personal accounts of the respondents, which include the HCA president, secretary, treasurer and the CEO, and not from the account of the HCA. The amount was paid to Venkatesh Prasad, Himani Yadav, Mamata Kanojia, Arjun Hoysala, Sabyasaachi, Rajshekar Shanbal, Hyderabad Ranji coach Vineet Saxena, Shravanti Naidu and B.R. Suvarna Laxmi.

The petitioners contended that the four office-bearers of the HCA had entered into an agreement, without the approval of the Apex Council on August 30, 2024, with Venkatesh Pradesh, appointing him as consultant for cricket operations with a remuneration of `75 lakh per annum.

Deccan Chronicle had reported the abrupt decision of the HCA to replace the coaching and support staff of the HCAE after the state team won the 2024 Buchi Babu Tournament. This newspaper is in possession of the letter written by Vijay Mohan Rao, director of HCAE, to the HCA bosses on the matter.

“This unilateral action violates the provisions of HCA memorandum and amounts to breach of fiduciary duty by respondents, as they are illegally executing appointment contracts without consulting or obtaining approval from the Apex Council,” the petitioners argued in court.

Justice Bheemapaka in his order dated May 2 stated that the court did not find fault with Venkatesh Prasad and others for accepting their respective appointments, but that the fact remained that the appointments made on behalf of the HCA were not in accordance with the rules and regulations. The court in its order said that it was sympathetic towards the respondents but would not allow their continuation.

The petitioners also pointed out that the office-bearers had failed to convene the Apex Council meetings as required, did not provide notices or agendas, and ignored requests for audit reports and financial statements. They argued that these actions breached the fiduciary duties of the office-bearers and violated the association’s rules on governance and appointments. The petitioners sought a writ of mandamus to declare the appointments illegal, direct financial disclosures, and restore proper governance by ensuring inclusive meetings and adherence to the bylaws.

The court was presented with detailed arguments on the governance structure of the HCA, the powers of the Apex Council versus those of the office-bearers, and the procedural requirements for appointments and financial disclosures. The petitioners emphasised the need for collective decision-making and adherence to the association’s rules to maintain transparency and accountability in managing cricket affairs in Hyderabad.

“This case underscores ongoing governance issues, highlighting the importance of following established rules and ensuring collective oversight to prevent arbitrary decisions and maintain integrity in sports and cricket administration in particular. The court’s decision will have significant implications for the functioning and regulation of the Hyderabad Cricket Association,” said T. Basava Raju, HCA joint secretary and one of the petitioners.