JAIPUR: The three-year tenure of Vaibhav Gehlot-led executive committee will end on Tuesday and in the backdrop of the turmoil in Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), there is an air of ambiguity on who will run the state body until fresh elections are held. While the incumbent regime is, 'according to the law', carrying out the daily activities of the RCA, the opposition group led by RS Nandu claims 'an ad hoc committee should be in place according to the law' until the polls are held.
The Rajasthan High Court has put a stay on holding elections which were earlier scheduled on September 30. The matter has now been placed for hearing on October 11.
RCA secretary Mahendra Sharma said that he finds it strange why there is even a question on who will run the association? "The Article 25 of RCA's constitution which is approved by the Supreme Court appointed committee of administrators, clearly says 'office bearers and the councillors of the association will hold office for one term of three years and after the expiry of that period until their successors are appointed.' So naturally, our team is still in charge until we get the nod from the court to hold the RCA polls and the new executive panel is formed. Especially when the election process started on September 8 for the elections scheduled for September 30 which were within the tenure," said the secretary.
On the contrary, former RCA secretary Nandu pointed out the state sports act. "According to the Rajasthan Sports Act 2005, once the tenure is over and fresh elections are pending, the registrar appoints an ad hoc panel to run the association. We will move the court again to raise this issue. The law they are quoting is devised by them and it is nowhere in any Act, including the one recommended by the Lodha Panel or the state," he said.
Mahendra Sharma mentioned that RCA held the AGM on September 30 where the decision was taken to appoint retired Supreme Court Justice GS Singhvi as ombudsman and former High Court Justice JK Ranka as the new ethics officer. He said that the court has put a stay on the elections but not on holding the AGM which has to happen on or before 30th September of every year.
"We are following every rule and regulation stated in the constitution approved by the committee of administrators appointed by the Supreme Court. We cannot stall the cricketing activity and leave the sport to suffer in the state," the secretary added.
Both the warring factions have their arguments and like other matters of the RCA, even this can likely end up being argued in the court.
