Our Correspondent
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has landed in fresh legal and administrative trouble after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Ombudsman and Ethics Officer, Justice Arun Mishra (Retd.), issued a notice directing it to respond to allegations of serious violations of the BCCI Constitution and governance norms approved by the Supreme Court. The order, passed on June 29, requires the HCA Apex Council to file its reply within four weeks, setting the stage for an independent examination of the allegations. Welcoming the development, the Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) said the proceedings vindicate its long-standing stand that cricket administration in Hyderabad must strictly adhere to the constitutional framework governing the sport.
The notice follows a complaint filed by two former cricketers alleging that the HCA failed to implement several mandatory provisions of the BCCI Constitution and governance reforms recommended by the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee and accepted by the Supreme Court.
Reacting to the development, TCA General Secretary Dharam Guruva Reddy said the Ombudsman’s decision to issue notice vindicated concerns that the association had been raising for a long time regarding the functioning of cricket administration in Hyderabad.
“The issuance of notice by the Hon’ble BCCI Ombudsman is a significant development. It reflects that the complaints disclose issues requiring judicial examination. We have consistently maintained that cricket administration must function strictly within the framework of the BCCI Constitution and the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” he said.
According to the complaint, the HCA allegedly failed to incorporate several mandatory provisions of the BCCI Constitution into its own constitution. It also allegedly omitted provisions relating to the classification of Full, Associate and Institutional Members, besides failing to comply with mandatory disclosure requirements to the BCCI, including annual submission of office-bearers’ details, governing body particulars and audited financial statements.
The complaint further alleges non-compliance with constitutional provisions concerning territorial jurisdiction following the creation of Telangana as a separate State. It also questions the grant of Full Membership to Institutional Members and recreational clubs, including Secunderabad Club and Fateh Maidan Club, despite the BCCI Constitution restricting such entities to Associate Membership.
Justice Mishra has directed the HCA, represented by its Apex Council, to file its response within four weeks, following which the matter will be listed for further proceedings.
Guruva Reddy maintained that the issue transcended individuals or institutions and centred on preserving the integrity of cricket governance.
“This is about protecting the constitutional framework governing cricket administration. Transparency, accountability and adherence to the BCCI Constitution are essential for the healthy growth of the game and for safeguarding the interests of players,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the BCCI’s institutional mechanisms, Guruva Reddy said the TCA would continue pursuing transparent and constitutionally compliant cricket administration in Telangana, while expressing hope that the Ombudsman’s proceedings would ultimately strengthen governance and serve the larger interests of the game.
