The High Court on Wednesday reserved its decision on an appeal against a judgment whereby its single bench had directed that Justice C K Prasad, former judge of the Supreme Court and Justice Syed Rafat Alam, ex-Chief Justice of MP and Allahabad High Courts, be appointed as administrators of the J&K Cricket Association for conducting free and fair elections. 
A division bench of Justice Muhammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey reserved the decision after hearing the parties through their counsels. The appeals were filed by some of the aspiring cricketers and members of a local cricket clubs.
Counsel representing these clubs submitted before the court that till the appeal is decided, the administrators shall not hold the office but the counsels representing BCCI, State and some clubs vehemently countered the submissions.
The appellants submited that with regard to the appointment of observers for holding elections to JKCA, the Supreme Court has directed that a retired electoral Officer of the state may be appointed to supervise the elections for the association.
“The single judge bench has instead asked the administrators appointed to make appointment of any officer for supervising the elections,” they pleaded.
Senior advocate Bashir Ahmad Bashir representing some of the clubs, however, argued that earlier ombudsman was appointed illegally by the erstwhile working committee in which authority was given to secretary to appoint ombudsman who was convicted by the trial court in a gambling case.
Pointing out that the elections held on 19.7.2016 were conducted in violation of Supreme Court judgment, Bashir said the apex court in January this year ruled that all disqualified office-bearers shall demit their office as well as those who have not carried out the recommendation of Lodha committee.
He submitted that the present management should go and let the administrators appoint the ombudsman or court may appoint him for resolving the disputes among the clubs.
On October 14, the single bench had appointed the two former judges as administrators of the J&K Cricket Association for conducting free and fair elections within two months.
In an interim direction in the appeal, the division bench had on November 20 stayed the single bench order. (Courtesy Greater Kashmir)
