Bombay HC Appoints Ad-Hoc Committee To Administer Day-To-Day Functioning Of Mumbai Cricket Association [Read Order]

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday constituted an ad-hoc committee to look after day-to-day functioning of the Mumbai Cricket Association.

The committee comprises of Professor Dr. Umesh Khanwilkar, Mr. Navin Shetty, Mr. Shahalam Shaikh, Mr. Ganesh Iyer, and CEO Mr.C.S.Naik. Dr. Khanvilkar and Mr. Naik have been appointed as the authorised signatories to operate the bank account of the association jointly.

Justice Sandeep K. Shinde directed this committee to submit an audited statement of income and expenditure with particulars to the court quarterly.

The court had, in April this year, appointed a committee of administrators, comprising former Supreme Court judge, Justice HL Gokhale, and former Bombay High Court judge, Justice VM Kanade. They had, however, expressed their unwillingness to continue as administrators after expiry of their term.

The court was now hearing an application filed by the city cricket body seeking appointment of a panel which could take financial and other administrative decisions. This was a week after the court refused to interfere in the BCCI's decision to shift a one-day international match between India and West Indies from the MCA-run Wankhede Stadium to Brabourne Stadium of the Cricket Club of India.

The Association had essentially highlighted the lack of any responsible person or committee to manage its administrative affairs. The court noted, “It is brought to the notice of this Court that Association has to defray day­ to ­day expenses and pay the statutory dues like professional tax, provident fund of its employees. 

Besides, remuneration and salary is payable to its employees and coaches. Schedule of monthly expenses at page 195 shows there are 61 permanent employees of the Association besides, contract employees. Every month Association has to spend about 83,48,000/­. As on today in the absence of committee association is unable to pay statutory dues including the salaries of its permanent employees for want of authority. In other words, entire affairs of the association has come to stand­still.”

Advocate AS Khandeparkar, appearing for the petitioner association, had therefore submitted that there was a need for appointing an ad-hoc Managing Committee of five members, who are otherwise eligible to be appointed as members of the Managing Committee of the Association, along with its CEO, to discharge the day-to-day administrative functions of the Association.

Accepting his suggestion, the court ordered, “…the committee as constituted hereinabove shall look after day­-to­-day administrative functions of the Association and shall not take any major policy decision without first obtaining leave of this Court.”

Read the Order Here