Two more observers for BCCI AGM

The Kolkata high court on Thursday appointed two more observers in addition to retired Supreme Court judge Suhas Chandra Sen to supervise the Board of Control for Cricket in India's elections, to be held during its two-day AGM in Kolkata, on Thursday and Friday.

Justice Soumitra Sen, after receiving confirmation about their availabilty, named Justices K N Singh and Madan Mohan Punchi to share the responsibility with Justice Suhas Chandra Sen.

Justice Soumitra Sen, giving the order, directed that all disputes with regard to eligibility and disqualification of voters for the elections would be decided by the three-member panel before the election begins.

In case of differences in opinion among the observers, the majority decision would be valid, the judge directed.

An application was moved before the court by Netaji Cricket Club of Chennai and Rajasthan Cricket Association seeking revision of Thursday's order appointing Suhas Sen as the sole observer for the much-hyped polls to the world's richest cricket body.

The two clubs had sought appointment of two more observers to have a three-member panel to oversee the elections.

BCCI's counsel Pratap Chatterjee stated before the court that the Madras high court had rejected Netaji Cricket Club's petition earlier during the day.

Netaji Club's counsel S K Kapoor, however, claimed that the petition before the Kolkata high court had been moved to pre-empt a decision by the Madras high court.

Rajasthan Club's counsel claimed that it was an abuse of process resorted to by Kalighat Club, which had sought the appointment of observer by the high court.

Kalighat Club, an affiliated member of the Cricket Association of Bengal, had sought the appointment of an observer for the annual general meeting so that the election was held in a free and fair manner.

Appearing for the club, counsel Hirak Mitra claimed that there is every possibility of malpractice in the election process.

Justice Sen had observed that the problem was precipitated by the absence of specific and clear election rules.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra strongman Sharad Pawar will contest for the BCCI President's post as a nominee of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.

Disclosing this, former BCCI chief Raj Singh Dungarpur said: "Yes, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association has nominated him. I have been telling you all the time that he will be contesting."

Pawar arrived in Kolkata on Wednesday night along with JKCA president Farooq Abdullah.

"Jammu and Kashmir has nominated Sharad Pawar to represent the state for the post of the BCCI president," Abdullah said on Thursday.