Cricket Bodies Should Have Ex-Cricketers, Not Those Who Don’t Know How to Hold Bat: SC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure at sports bodies being run by non-experts, saying cricket associations should be run by retired cricketers rather than people who “don’t even know how to use a bat”. Citing allegations of “nepotism and nepotism”, the bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi refused to correct the Bombay High Court order that had stayed the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) elections, originally scheduled to be held on January 6.
The bench was hearing arguments, including the plea filed by MCA against the high court order.
During the hearing, the CJI questioned the sudden increase in MCA membership.
Citing records, the board noted that the association had 164 members between 1986 and 2023, but saw a large influx of new members immediately thereafter.
“You had 164 members from 1986 to 2023, and you had a big draw from 2023?” the CJI asked.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who represented the petitioners, including MCA and NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar, said a committee headed by a retired judge oversaw the process and rejected 48 members and encouraged others.
He also alleged that the Charity Commissioner appointed an administrator without consulting the cabinet.
The CJI emphasized that if the association wants to increase the number of members to 300, these quotas should be reserved for famous, retired international players.
“This is a country of outstanding cricketers; those who retired were the best in the line-up,” the CJI said.
“Who are you bringing? People who don’t even know the game… they don’t even know how to play with a stick. Don’t let us express our feelings too much about what’s going on,” he said.
The CJI also stated that sports associations exist because of the athletes and not the administrators.
“Cricket is not because of (officials), it is because of the cricketers. The hockey federation is known because of the hockey players. They should be given at least that much respect,” he added.
The legal battle began when former Indian cricketer and BJP leader Kedar Jadhav approached the Bombay High Court. Jadhav alleged that the voter list was “rigged” by the sudden addition of around 401 members.
According to Jadhav’s petition, most of the new candidates are close relatives or business associates of NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar.
The bench allowed the petitioners to withdraw their pleas and directed them to raise all the allegations before the Bombay High Court, which is scheduled to hear the matter on Wednesday.
The delegation was instructed that “the Supreme Court will evaluate the allegations and will be requested to decide the matter quickly.”
