Justice A.C.J.S.P. Sharma Justice M. Sharma Rajasthan HC SERVICE Cricket elections defied: courtinstalls IAS officer as
[ High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan ]

Rajasthan HC Suspends Ad-hoc Committee, Appoints IAS Officer as Administrator for Rajasthan Cricket Association

The Rajasthan High Court suspended the cricket body's Ad-hoc Committee and placed an Additional Chief Secretary in charge after repeated failures to hold elections despite court directions.

— High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Jaipur Bench — 4 July 2026 — 5 min read

A Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Maneesh Sharma, on 1 July 2026 suspended the Ad-hoc Committee of the Rajasthan Cricket Association and simultaneously set aside the State government's order dated 26 June 2026 that had extended the committee's tenure. In its place, the court appointed Mr. Bhaskar A. Sawant, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Rajasthan, as Administrator of the Association. The bench also directed the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Rajasthan to appear personally on the next date and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for failing to comply with an earlier court direction. The matter arose from D.B. Civil Writ Petition (PIL) No.2586/2026, filed by Rajiv Pratap Singh Rathore.

A Long History of Unfulfilled Election Directions

The bench had passed a detailed order on 27 April 2026 directing the State to explain why elections of the Rajasthan Cricket Association's Managing Committee had not been conducted despite committees being appointed from time to time with that specific mandate. The petitioner's counsel had informed the court that as recently as 28 March 2026, yet another Ad-hoc Committee had been formed and given three months to hold elections — the same direction that had been given to previous committees without result.

In that April order, the bench had also called upon the Registrar to account for what steps had been taken against Ad-hoc Committee members who had previously failed to conduct elections, and whether those members had been removed from their respective District Cricket Associations. The case was listed for 25 May 2026.

By the time the matter came up on 1 July 2026, no reply had been filed by the State, and the Registrar had given no account of any disciplinary action. The court recorded that the Registrar “has failed to comply with the orders passed by this Court.”

The State's June 2026 Order That Triggered Judicial Intervention

On 26 June 2026 — the day before the Ad-hoc Committee's tenure was to expire — the State issued an order under Section 24(1)(A) of the Rajasthan Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Act, 2005. That provision governs the regulation and oversight of sports associations registered under the Act. Instead of directing fresh elections to be held immediately, the order extended the Ad-hoc Committee's term with the same directions as before: conduct elections within three months.

The petitioner's counsel placed this order before the bench on 1 July 2026. The bench took the order on record and then proceeded to suspend it. In the court's view, extending the committee's tenure was plainly inconsistent with the court's repeated directions and the committee's own history of non-compliance.

Appointment of Administrator and Contempt Warning

Having suspended both the Ad-hoc Committee and the 26 June 2026 government order, the bench appointed Mr. Bhaskar A. Sawant, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Rajasthan, as Administrator of the Rajasthan Cricket Association. The court directed him to “personally make it sure that elections of the Managing Committee of the Rajasthan Cricket Association are conducted and concluded within a period of three months henceforth.”

He was further directed to declare the schedule of elections and inform the court of that schedule before the next hearing date. All District Cricket Associations were placed under his overall supervision and control until a regular elected committee is constituted.

Separately, the bench directed the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Rajasthan to remain present in court on 29 July 2026 and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. The April 2026 order had squarely directed him to report on disciplinary steps taken against non-compliant committee members. His silence in the intervening period formed the basis for the contempt warning.

Outcome

The Division Bench passed the following directions on 1 July 2026 in D.B. Civil Writ Petition (PIL) No.2586/2026:

  • The Ad-hoc Committee of the Rajasthan Cricket Association stands suspended.
  • The State government's order dated 26 June 2026, extending the committee's tenure under Section 24(1)(A) of the Rajasthan Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Act, 2005, stands suspended.
  • Mr. Bhaskar A. Sawant, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Rajasthan, is appointed Administrator of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
  • The Administrator is directed to ensure elections of the Managing Committee are conducted and concluded within three months, and to declare the election schedule before the next date.
  • All District Cricket Associations are placed under the Administrator's supervision until a regular elected committee is formed.
  • The Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Rajasthan is directed to appear personally on 29 July 2026 to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.
  • The matter is listed for 29 July 2026.
PIL Rajasthan High Court