HC suspends DDCA decision to remove Justice Mudgal appointed selectors (Lead, Superseding earlier copy)

The Delhi High Court on Monday suspended the order of the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) of removing three selectors appointed by a panel set up by Justice Mukul Mudgal, who was appointed by the court last year to look into the issue of alleged irregularities in the functioning of the cricket body.

A division bench of Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Justice Deepa Sharma slammed the DDCA for removing three selectors who were chosen on the instructions of High Court-appointed observer Justice Mudgal, a former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Moving the court against the decision of the DDCA, Justice Mudgal said the action of the DDCA amounts to violation of court orders as he was appointed by the High Court to oversee its functioning.

The DDCA's sports committee recently removed former India players Atul Wassan and Nikhil Chopra from the state's senior selection panel. It also removed Maninder Singh from the junior selection panel.

Lashing out at the DDCA, the bench said that the decision to remove the selectors amounts to contempt of court.

"DDCA should have informed the court about such a move when the order was reserved so that it could have taken preventive steps at that time only. It further said it does not want to accelerate the issue, "but the action of DDCA attracts contempt of court," the bench said.

The court also warned the DDCA not to interfere with the working of the selectors in future.

"we really don't know where things are going. It is unfortunate. You are after the committee. You are targeting Justice Mudgal," the bench said.

--IANS

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