HC appoints retd judge as DDCA Chairman to hold meetings

Delhi High Court today appointed a retired judge as Chairman of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) to preside over its executive committee meetings till a trial court decides on the controversy over suspension of its President.
Justice J R Midha also allowed the suspended President of DDCA, Sneh Bansal, to attend the meetings till his plea before a trial court challenging his removal was heard.
The Court appointed former High Court judge, Justice R V Easwar, as the Chairman for the meetings on the plea of DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda, who has challenged the trial court's January 16 order directing the cricket body not to convene any meetings till Bansal's plea is heard.

The High Court's order came after both Manchanda and Bansal agreed to the interim arrangement of appointing a retired judge to head meetings of DDCA.
"After some hearing, counsels for both parties agree that a retired judge of this court be appointed as Chairman for meeting of the Executive Committee of DDCA till the trial court decides the plaintiff's application.
"It is also agreed that the respondent (Bansal), who is the President, and Anil Khanna, who is the General Secretary of DDCA, shall be permitted to attend the meetings as members of the Executive Committee till then.

With the consent of both the parties, Justice R V Easwar, former judge of this court is appointed as Chairman of the meetings of DDCA. Senior counsels for both the parties agree that the fee for the Chairman be fixed at Rs 1,10,000 per meeting, which shall be paid by DDCA," the court said.

The trial court's January 16 order was challenged in the High Court by Manchanda, who is also a defendant in the plaint filed by Bansal challenging his removal.
Manchanda submitted before the High Court that the entire working of DDCA has come to a standstill as no work can be done without convening meeting of the executive committee.
Meanwhile, Bansal's counsel Gautam Dutta maintained that his client was illegally suspended and not being permitted to participate in the meetings.