Hyderabad Cricket Association ignoring Lodha panel: PIL

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday said that it will hear a PIL on Wednesday seeking directions to the Hyderabad Cricket Association to implement the recommendations of Justice R.M. Lodha Committee. M. Govinda Reddy, an advocate of the city, moved the PIL stating that the recommendations of the Lodha panel were being implemented by various state cricket associations across the country, besides the BCCI, but the HCA has not been implementing them.

The High Court Registry raised an objection to listing the case and placed it before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akhter. Counsel appearing for the petitioner told the bench that the Registry has objected to list the matter in the High Court as the issue of Lodha panel was being dealt with by the Supreme Court. He said that the Lodha panel has prescribed a timeframe for implementation of its recommendations and as the HCA failed to do so, they have moved the High Court.

Counsel said that there have been several FIRs against former office bearers of the HCA for alleged misappropriation of funds and as of now, two groups were fighting to control the HCA. While informing the court that cricket matches are scheduled from February 9, 2017, he urged the court to appoint an ad-hoc officer to monitor the cricket matches as there was no elected body in existence for the HCA. The bench while dismissing the objection of the Registry, directed it to list the case for hearing on Wednesday.

Partial relief for Jagan’s firm:
The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Enforcement Directorate not to take any coercive steps till February 10 against Bharathi Cements Corporation Ltd owned by YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and other companies in taking possession of their properties attached in illegal investments case of Mr Reddy under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Justice A. Ramalingeswara Rao was disposing of 13 writ petitions by Bharathi Cements and others and also writ appeal by the ED against the stay orders of a single judge with regard to attachment proceedings. When the cases came up for hearing before the judge, P.S.P. Suresh Kumar, counsel for the ED, informed the court that the appeals of the petitioner companies before the Appellate Authority of the ED were listed for hearing on February 7 and 10.

The judge then directed the Appellate Authority of the ED to dispose of the appeals by February 10 and said that till that date, the authorities should not take any coercive steps. The ED had attached the properties worth Rs 749 crore belonging to Bharathi Cements and other companies through provisional attachment order and the provisional attachment was confirmed by the adjudicating authority.

When the ED started taking possession of the properties, the petitioners moved 13 petitions before the High Court and a single judge granted the stay. Later, the ED moved appeals against the single judge order and a division bench referred the cases to the single judge, requesting him to dispose of petitions by January 31. Justice Ramalingeswara Rao extended the interim order in view of its expiry on Tuesday and disposed of the matter.