RCA election result on hold again

The Supreme Court has adjourned to January 27 its hearing of a case during which it was expected to announce the results of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) election.

The RCA election was held on December 19, with Lalit Modi, the former RCA president and IPL chairman, contesting the president's post. It is understood that on January 15 Modi's legal counsel approached the court seeking adjournment since one of their senior lawyers was not available to attend the hearing today.

The delay in announcing the results is because the court is hearing a special leave petition (SLP) filed by former RCA president Kishore Rungta, Modi's predecessor, regarding the association's election procedure.

During the last hearing on January 6, BCCI senior counsel CA Sundaram had requested the court that, before opening the sealed results, it hear the board's argument on whether Modi disqualification ought to be considered. The court said it would consider that request, indirectly indicating that the BCCI would be allowed to raise their challenge.

As soon as it was made public that Modi would contest the RCA polls, the BCCI warned the affiliate that it would take stringent action including possible expulsion. Modi challenged that order in the Rajasthan High Court through the Nagaur district cricket association. The stay order was initially granted but later vacated by the High Court, citing Modi had to challenge it personally and no third party could represent him.

The RCA then, on behalf of Modi, challenged the BCCI order on January 3 through a civil suit in the district sessions court in Jaipur. In this petition, RCA counsel Kamlakar Sharma argued that the BCCI be restrained from taking any adverse actions with regards to the state's affiliation. According to an RCA insider, Modi's move was to "pre-empt the suspension."

But the BCCI counsel Rajesh Joshi contested strongly saying since the matter was sub-judice in the Supreme Court, the lower court defer its judgment. On Thursday the judge KP Saxena accepted the BCCI application, and postponed the decision, negating Modi's gambit to get a status quo.