CoA directs Mumbai Cricket Association to appoint new electoral officer

DN Chaudhary, after weighing different sides of the argument concerning Mumbai Cricket Association, had said that MCA could come back to him after getting clarifications from the Supreme Court, if that goes against the orders by the Lodha committee. The denial put Mumbai in a difficult spot as they wrote a letter to the CoA, citing advice. The CoA has now directed MCA to appoint someone else in his place.

"The Committee of Administrators has perused the letter dated 11th September 2019 addressed by Shri D. N. Chaudhari to the Mumbai Cricket Association and respectfully disagrees with the views expressed by him therein, which appear to be based on perusal of certain extracts of the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and proceed on the incorrect basis that the direction against holding elections contained in the order dated 5th July 2018 passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court is still in force.

While "respectfully disagreeing" with Chaudhari's observations as it is "incorrectly" based on an earlier Supreme Court directive on July 5, 2018, which stated that elections couldn't be held, the CoA reminded that the apex court has approved draft constitution on August 9, 2018, and there is no question of not holding the elections.

"This is not the case. In any event, various State Associations across the country have subsequently conducted their elections with the approval of the Committee of Administrators and have not been found to have committed contempt of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Since Shri D. N. Chaudhari has not given his consent to act as Electoral Officer, the MCA may consider some other person for appointment as Electoral Officer in accordance with the Directions," said the CoA.

"The MCA is once again advised to immediately comply with the Judgment and subsequent directions issued by the Committee of Administrators in relation to elections in State Associations in order to ensure that MCA can participate in BCCI elections," the CoA directive read.