Bombay High Court Mandates Six-Month Probe into Goa Cricket Association Fund Allegations
In a significant development concerning the governance of cricket administration in Goa, the Bombay High Court has issued a directive to the registrar of societies to thoroughly investigate serious allegations of fund misappropriation within the Goa Cricket Association (GCA). This order comes in response to a petition filed by Mahesh Chavan, a lifetime member of the GCA, who raised concerns about financial irregularities within the association.
Court Directs Expedited Investigation into Pending Complaints
The High Court has specifically instructed the registrar of societies to examine all similar complaints that are currently pending before his office. To ensure efficient processing, the court suggested that if necessary, these complaints should be clubbed together to expedite the disposal proceedings. However, the bench emphasized that independent notices must be issued to all affected parties, and they should be given a fair opportunity to be heard before any final order is passed.
The court has set a strict timeline of six months from the receipt of the order for the completion of this entire process. This directive aims to address the petitioner's concerns about prolonged inaction on the complaints.
Background of the Petition and Initial Actions
Mahesh Chavan's petition highlighted that despite repeated complaints being filed with the registrar of societies, no substantial action had been taken to investigate the alleged misappropriation of funds by the GCA. In response, the High Court noted that based on Chavan's complaint, a show cause notice had already been issued, with an appearance date fixed for February 27. Therefore, the court observed that it was incorrect to claim that no action whatsoever had been taken by the registrar.
Representing Chavan, Advocate Rohit Bras De Sa argued that among several complaints pending before the registrar, action had been initiated only on one complaint, and even that lacked clarity regarding the timeline for completion. This prompted the petitioner to seek specific directions from the High Court to ensure a timely and comprehensive investigation.
Court's Observations and Legal Safeguards
The division bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justices Suman Shyam and Amit S Jamsandekar, made it clear that since the writ petition was disposed of at the admission stage without serving notices to the private respondents, no opinion was expressed on the merits of the claims made in the petition. The bench explicitly stated that the respondents retain the liberty to raise all permissible objections under the law before the registrar of societies during the investigation process.
This careful approach ensures that while the investigation proceeds with urgency, all parties involved are afforded due process and legal protections. The court's intervention underscores the importance of accountability in sports administration, particularly in organizations like the Goa Cricket Association, which plays a crucial role in promoting cricket at the state level.
The outcome of this six-month investigation could have significant implications for the governance and financial transparency of the GCA, potentially setting a precedent for how similar complaints are handled in other sports associations across the region.
