Court Suspends Ad-hoc Committee, Appoints Administrator to Oversee Timely Elections
In a significant move, the Rajasthan High Court has intervened in the prolonged election impasse of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), by suspending the existing Ad-hoc Committee and appointing an Administrator to ensure timely elections. The decision comes after repeated failures of the Ad-hoc Committee to conduct elections, despite multiple court directions.
The court, in its order dated July 1, 2026, emphasized the need for accountability and transparency within sports associations, referring to the provisions of the Rajasthan Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Act, 2005. The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Maneesh Sharma, expressed dissatisfaction with the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Rajasthan, for not complying with previous court orders.
The High Court's intervention was prompted by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Rajiv Pratap Singh Rathore, which highlighted the Ad-hoc Committee's repeated tenure extensions and failure to conduct elections as mandated. The court noted that an order dated April 27, 2026, had already instructed the Registrar to report on actions taken against the non-compliant Ad-hoc Committee members, which had been disregarded.
The court has now appointed Mr. Bhaskar A. Sawant, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Rajasthan, as the Administrator for the RCA. Mr. Sawant has been tasked with declaring the election schedule and ensuring the elections are completed within three months. Additionally, the court has directed all District Cricket Associations to operate under the supervision of the Administrator until a new managing committee is elected.
The High Court's decision underscores the judiciary's role in upholding governance in sports associations, ensuring that democratic processes are respected and adhered to. The case is scheduled for further hearing on July 29, 2026, where the court expects a report on the progress of the election process.
Bottom line:-
Rajasthan Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Act, 2005 - Failure to conduct elections by Ad-hoc Committee despite repeated directions - High Court suspends the Ad-hoc Committee and appoints an Administrator to oversee and ensure timely elections of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
Statutory provision(s): Rajasthan Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Act, 2005 Sections 24(1)(A) and 27.
