Chennai, October 8
In a new turn to the highly contentious election of the cricket board President Ranbir Singh Mahendra, the Madras High Court today restrained him and all other office-bearers from functioning in a decision that has come on top of a city court's injunction on Board supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya's appointment as its Patron-in-Chief.A Division Bench comprising Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice K Ravirajapandian also appointed retired Supreme Court Judge S Mohan as interim administrator to run the affairs of the Board, subject to his consent.
The Court gave its orders on a review petition filed by the city-based Netaji Cricket Club, which had demanded that setting aside of the elections held in Kolkatta on Sep 29, restraining the newly elected office-bearers from functioning and appointment of an interim administrator to conduct the Board's affairs till the disposal of the petition.
The High Court's orders came on top of a city civil court staying appointment of Dalmiya as the Board's Patron-in-Chief till October 11 when a petition in this regard would be heard.
In a hotly contested election, Dalmiya's nominee Mahendra defeated Union Minister and NCP leader Sharad Pawar amidst high drama and legal battles fought in Chennai.
"Prima facie, we feel that an undertaking given before the court pertaining to the conduct of the election has been violated. We are satisfied there is a prima facie case for granting interim orders," the Bench said today.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Arun Kumar Babde, who appeared on behalf of Netaji Club contested the Board's claim that it had no locus standi to challenge the Board's functioning.
Appearing on behalf of the BCCI, senior counsel T R Rajagopal said since the court had already decreed the suit and provided relief to the petitioner, the question of review did not arise.
The Bench ordered notice to BCCI returnable in a week.
In its application, the Club contended that it was aggrieved by the Division Bench order of September 29 setting aside a single Judge's order a day earlier appointing Justice Mohan as Commissioner to conduct the BCCI election.
The judges also granted leave to Chairman of the Maharashtra Cricket Association D Agashe to file a review application.
— PTI
