BCCI vs Lalit Modi-led RCA case hearing on September 11

The impasse between the Rajasthan Cricket Association and the Board of Control for Cricket in India is likely to continue as the District Judge, Jaipur (city) has set September 11 as the next date of hearing.

The BCCI had warned RCA of dire consequences if they allow Lalit Modi, who is facing a life ban, to fight the state body elections but the RCA not only had ignored it but also proceeded to elect him as the president.

An irked BCCI had immediately suspended RCA and later left it out from its domestic calendar.

Challenging the suspension and its allied issues imposed on RCA by the BCCI the RCA has moved District Judge as well High Court crying foul because it feels it is the only legitimate body elected under the Sports Act prevailing in the state.

In its transfer application filed by BCCI before the Learned District Judge, the Indian Cricket Board leveled allegation of bias against the Additional District Judge 4 and sought the matter to be transferred to some other court.

RCA deputy president Mehmood Abdi appeared in person and prayed to the court that the order sheets of the ADG-4 would amply display that no favor has been shown to RCA by the learned ADJ-4 or any prejudiced has been caused to BCCI by his orders running into over a dozen pages.

He alleged that on the contrary all applications of BCCI have been allowed by the learned ADG court but for the two applications of RCA.

Abdi alleged that instead of arguing the issue of suspension and its consequential aspects BCCI is drifting and delaying the matter on every possible pretext.

"Firstly, it raised the issue of jurisdiction and wanted the matter to be heard at Chennai and not Jaipur. The issue went up to the High Court which on August 11 dismissed BCCI's appeal on the issue of jurisdiction. Now BCCI is trying to further drift and drag the matter by seeking adjournment of their transfer application date after date," he said.

Abdi further said,"RCA is opposing the transfer application of BCCI as a matter of principal that judicial officers should not be intimidated on the basis of vague and unsubstantiated allegations of bias.

"In its application BCCI has not given any details or explained their charge of bias against the judicial officer. Which is why, they are now shying away from arguing the matter on merits. Adjournments sought by BCCI are a time tested strategy to delay the matter," said Abdi, who is also the president of the Sri Ganganagar District Cricket Association.

"Today, the learned District Judge has given final opportunity to BCCI in-house counsel who appeared for the board to come prepared to final arguments on their application on 11th of September.

"As such now the matter is listed for final hearing on 11th September thereafter the matter would proceed in court below. We are hoping the impasse would come to an end and rightfully our cricketers would be able to play in the domestic season," said Abdi.

Going ahead with its own domestic calendar the RCA has begun with the Challenger Trophy and has declared the full schedule for the season banking on the court's verdict in the ongoing legal tangle with the apex cricket body in country.

Reports say that BCCI is mulling over the idea of forming one team from players of three disputed states like Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttaranchal and would allow it to play in the domestic season.

Image: Lalit Modi

Photograph: Chirag Wakaskar-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images