Mumbai: The Delhi and District Cricket Association’s (DDCA) decision of removing three selectors appointed by Delhi High Court’s observer Justice Mukul Mudgal has ignited a new tussle. In that direction The Delhi High Court on Monday has suspended the DDCA’s declaration.
A bench comprising justices SR Bhat and Deepa Sharma said the DDCA had “crossed its limit” by removing the three selectors, even when the high court had reserved its order on the matter. It said the DDCA’s move amounted to contempt of court. “We think you [the DDCA] are testing everyone’s patience here…Evidently, somebody is over-reaching,” it said. The court has also asked the association to clear all the dues it owes playing cricketers within 48 hours, according to ANI.
This is not for the first time that DDCA has side-lined,Delhi High Court appointed-Justice Mukul Mudgal’s instruction. The Court had earlier also expressed its displeasure over the sacking of former Indian players, Atul Wassan, Nikhil Chopra and Maninder Singh from the DDCA selectors’ panel. Atul Wassan and Nikhil Chopra were appointed by the Delhi High Court appointed-Justice Mukul Mudgal.
The battle between the two is stormy and both the parties stands with a strong contention. Senior advocate Aman Lekhi, appearing for DDCA, said the conflict of interest notice was issued to the selectors, after which the court said it will hear the matter later.
On the other hand, Justice Mudgal who’s class and statement cannot be ignored at all has to say:- “Selectors, who were appointed under my supervision through the process of interview by a selection panel, are in process of picking up senior and junior teams at the moment.
“The act of removing the selectors unanimously by certain directors and the convener, sports working committee (DDCA), without any approval from the selection panel formed by me or by the Delhi HC is only aimed to scuttle the domestic season.” He further said, the selectors were appointed by the selection panel keeping in mind the recommendations of the Lodha Committee on conflict of interest norms.
“The selectors have already selected various teams which are currently playing domestic matches. The removal of senior selectors is only aimed to change the constitution of the playing teams for collateral reasons,” Justice Mudgal said.
“Selectors, who were appointed under my supervision through the process of interview by a selection panel, are in process of picking up senior and junior teams at the moment.
“The act of removing the selectors unanimously by certain directors and the convener, sports working committee (DDCA), without any approval from the selection panel formed by me or by the Delhi HC is only aimed to scuttle the domestic season.” He further said, the selectors were appointed by the selection panel keeping in mind the recommendations of the Lodha Committee on conflict of interest norms.
“The selectors have already selected various teams which are currently playing domestic matches. The removal of senior selectors is only aimed to change the constitution of the playing teams for collateral reasons,” Justice Mudgal said.
Mudgal is not a small party to be considered. One most not forgot, how both junior and senior selection panels, picking teams at the moment, were formed under the supervision of High Court-appointed observer Justice Mudgal, who is also a former Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The selectors were removed on Saturday due to an alleged conflict of interest between the members and the state selection panel. The sports committee had claimed that Wassan, Chopra and Maninder have media contracts, which is in violation of the rules and regulations of the state board.
The sports committee has included national selector Sarandeep Singh in the panel citing that national selectors are always made chairman of state selection committee as it has been the case of Madan Lal, Kirti Azad, Chetan Chauhan to name a few. In place of Maninder Singh, the committee named former wicket keeper-batsman Vinay Kumar in the panel.