HC appoints fmr DIG Bukhari as CEO JKCA

Retired judge Bashir-ud-din appointed ombudsman

SRINAGAR: The State High Court on Wednesday appointed former top cop and a retired judge as Chief Executive Officer and Ombudsmen, respectively, of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) to “streamline” the function of state cricket body, which has been embroiled in controversies since long.
Observing that the JKCA is entangled in multiple litigations and in the process the object of promoting the cricketing activities is getting hampered, the division bench of the High Court comprising Justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, directed that Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, IPS, retired Deputy Inspector General, be appointed as Chief Executive Officer and retired Justice Syed Bashir-ud-din as ombudsman.
Citing Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha Committee as the base for giving its decisions to streamline the functioning of JKCA, the bench said that the cricket association is entangled in multiple litigations and disputes among its clubs, streamlining the functioning of the JKCA is in sight in the light of the judgment rendered by the Apex Court.
The bench said that “in our opinion, a suitable person has to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer who may have also administrative skills, therefore, we deem it appropriate to appoint Mr. Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, IPS, retired DIG, as Chief Executive Officer, who after approval of the Committee of Administrators, shall associate some reliable undisputed members of the Working Committee who have not incurred disqualification, for running the affairs of JKCA under the supervision and control of Committee of Administrators till rules are amended and elections are held.”
Pointing out that among the 32 Clubs of the Association, 12 are in different disputes, the court said that appointment of ombudsmen is required for settlement of disputes.
“Ombudsman was required to be appointed by the Association but in the stated background, we deem it proper to appoint ombudsman for resolving all the disputes after giving hearing to all concerned, therefore, we appoint Mr. Justice Syed Bashir-ud-din (retired) as ombudsman who shall undertake the task of settling the disputes of 12 clubs and also other disputes of the Association so as to pave a way for implementing directions of the Hon‟ble Supreme court in line with recommendations of the Lodha Committee,” the court directed.
The Justice Lodha committee was appointed by the Supreme Court to give recommendations for smooth functioning of the BCCI. And the committee has laid bare that the officer bearer should not be any politician, minister or a government servant or a criminal or has attained the age of 70 years.
The Court said that the Writ Court has rightly appointed two Administrators which cannot be found fault with except for certain additions so as to see that the committee of Administrators is assisted in implementing the recommendations of the Lodha Committee as accepted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
“The game of cricket till date has not flourished in the State of J&K to the extent it should have for allied reasons which include alleged embezzlement of funds, disputes inter se members of 12 clubs, rivalry between the groups, in the process multiple litigations made the game of cricket to suffer,” the court observed.
It said that the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling will help the game of cricket in its all respects to flourish.
The court directed that the expenditure shall be at par with Administrators.
“The monthly remuneration, allowances and other conditions during such term in office as an ombudsman shall be the same as that of a Judge of the High Court, reduced by the amount of the pension received by him and by the portion of the commuted value of the portion of such pension, if received by him. The monthly remuneration, allowances and other conditions during such term in office as Chief Executive Officer shall be the same as that of DIG reduced by the amount of pension received by him and by the promotion of the commuted value of the portion of such pension, if received by him,” the court said.