Gujarat High Court Grants Conditional Approval for Baroda Cricket Association Elections
The Gujarat High Court has delivered a significant ruling regarding the upcoming Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) elections, permitting the polling process to proceed as scheduled while simultaneously imposing a crucial stay on the declaration of results. This decision emerged from a contentious legal challenge filed by association members concerning alleged violations of Supreme Court-mandated tenure guidelines for office-bearers.
Court's Conditional Order on Election Process
Justice Niral Mehta, presiding over the case, issued a clear directive allowing the BCA to conduct its elections this Sunday. However, the court explicitly prohibited the association from proceeding with vote counting or announcing any results without obtaining prior judicial permission. The official court order emphasized, "Counting of votes and publication of result shall not be made without prior permission of this court."
The court further mandated that the election officer must ensure the secure custody of all ballot papers and take all necessary measures to preserve relevant election materials and data. Justice Mehta specifically ordered the maintenance of complete secrecy throughout the electoral process until further judicial review.
Petitioners Challenge Candidate Eligibility
The legal proceedings were initiated by two BCA members, Pradeepsinh Solanki and Ramchandra Prajapati, who filed a petition seeking enforcement of Supreme Court guidelines governing cricket administration. These guidelines disqualify individuals who have completed a cumulative nine-year tenure as office-bearers and/or councillors in state cricket associations, additionally mandating a compulsory three-year cooling-off period after serving two consecutive terms.
The petitioners specifically sought to restrain four individuals from contesting the elections: former Indian cricketer Kiran More, along with Amul Jikar, Anant Indulkar, and Amar Petiwale. They argued that these candidates were ineligible under the Supreme Court's tenure regulations, which were established to ensure transparency and prevent monopolization of positions in cricket administration.
Legal Arguments and Court Observations
During the hearing, the Baroda Cricket Association and the contested candidates questioned the maintainability of the petition, arguing against its legal standing. However, the Gujarat High Court upheld the petition's maintainability, allowing the case to proceed for substantive consideration.
The court made several critical observations regarding the petitioners' complaints. Justice Mehta noted that the objections raised by Solanki and Prajapati on January 20 and January 27, which alleged candidate disqualifications, had not been properly addressed. The court found that no hearing had been granted on these objections, and the final candidate list had been published without any formal orders, creating a prima facie violation of natural justice principles.
Next Steps in the Legal Proceedings
The Gujarat High Court has issued formal notices to the Baroda Cricket Association and all four contested candidates, requiring them to submit their detailed responses by February 17. The court has scheduled further hearing of the case for that date, when it will consider the arguments from all parties involved.
This legal development creates a complex situation where the election will technically proceed as planned, but the outcome remains in judicial limbo until the court resolves the eligibility disputes. The case highlights ongoing tensions between cricket administration bodies and judicial oversight mechanisms established to ensure compliance with governance reforms in Indian sports.
