Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday appointed Justice Anil R. Dave, retired judge of the Supreme Court and Justice G. V. Seethapathy, retired judge of the High Court, as the Committee of Administrators to exercise overall control over the administration of the Hyderabad Cricket Association and to manage its affairs in view of the forthcoming IPL matches. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akhter was disposing of an interim application by the BCCI seeking to appoint an observer or administrator for conducting this season’s IPL matches in Hyderabad that begin on April 5.
The bench observed that the HCA appears to be riddled with infighting, with two rival groups jostling for power, and to exercise control over the body. The bench said: “The Committee of Administrators shall hold office only for the duration of the IPL 2017 cricket season, and till the Justice Lodha Committee recommendations are implemented, which task we are confident they will complete within six months.”
The bench requested the Administrators to take necessary steps to ensure that the IPL matches are conducted properly and the cricket loving public of Hyderabad is able to watch these without disruption from any quarter. The bench ruled that both the Administrators shall, on behalf of HCA, enter into the tripartite agreement with the HCA and the franchisee and all sums received from various sources, shall be deposited in its entirety in the bank account of the HCA and the Administrators shall incur such expenditure as is necessary for the smooth conduct of IPL matches, and thereafter.
It was left open to the Administrators to file an application before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the BCCI to release such funds as are necessary for conducting the matches to be played at Hyderabad and it is also open to them to move the Court for modification of the orders passed, or to seek any clarification which they may consider necessary. The bench said that the expenditure is to be met from the funds available with the HCA and the Administrators shall appoint a financial advisor, in consultation with the Committee of Administrators of the BCCI, to assist them during the entire IPL 2017 season.
The bench requested the Administrators to submit their report, regarding the steps taken by them to ensure smooth conduct of IPL along with the income and expenditure incurred by the HCA during the season. The bench said that after implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations, the responsibility of managing the affairs of HCA, in accordance with the bye-laws, shall be handed back to the duly elected office bearers.
