The Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed its retired judge L Nageswara Rao as an ombudsman of the Bihar Cricket Association to take action against alleged illegal activities of some office bearers.

A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said it was passing the order to ensure smooth functioning of the association without interference of any external forces or inter-se disputes of the members.

The top court was hearing a plea against an order of the Patna High Court, which had set aside a single bench’s direction appointing former judge of the court Shaikesh Kumar Singh, as ombudsman.

The apex court said the entire issue revolves around the appointment of an ombudsman.

While the single judge appointed Justice Sinha, the appointment was set aside by the division bench of the high court and the BCCI was directed to appoint a new ombudsman, the apex court noted.

“We fail to understand why BCCI was involved in this matter, what the BCCI has to do with the appointment of ombudsman so far Bihar Cricket Association is concerned. In such circumstances, and in the larger public interest and for the smooth and effective functioning of Bihar Cricket Association, we set aside the appointment.

“We appoint Justice L. Nageswara Rao, former judge of the Supreme Court to act as Ombudsman of the Bihar Cricket Association. Let both sides have a formal meeting with Justice Rao to work out the modalities for the functioning of Bihar Cricket Association. The honorarium to be paid to Justice Rao shall be fixed in consultation with the parties,” the bench said.

During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the Bihar Cricket Association questioned the locus standi of former secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar Aditya Prakash Verma in approaching the court.

He said Verma has already been removed from the post in 2023.

Senior advocate Rajiv Shakdher, appearing for Verma, requested the court to appoint an ombudsman and put all conflicts to rest.

The bench then remarked,”All dirty politics, in all these types of associations and you all are wasting the time of the highest Court of the country trying to redress your own personal grievances. What a waste of public revenue, this cricket association, this Ombudsman and all, everything a farce.”

– Ends

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