Court observer for BCCI polls

The Calcutta High Court today appointed an observer to ensure that the election for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is held in a free and fair manner.

Following a petition filed by the Kalighat Club in Kolkata, Justice Soumitra Sen appointed Suhash Chandra Sen, a retired Supreme Court judge, as the observer.

BCCI was represented by Pratap Chatterjee and Kalighat Club by Hirak Mitra. Justice Sen said the court-appointed observer would have the authority to decide the floor of the meeting on any any dispute that could arise in the course of the election process.

The court directed the concerned parties to render full cooperation to the observer to ensure fair election. Kalighat Club in its petition had stated that the annual general meeting (AGM) of BCCI would be held on September 22 and 23 in Kolkata.

It said in the past, the experience of people interested in the election had been very bitter. It also added that given the high profile nature of the contest, there was every possibility of malpractices in the election process, therefore, an observer or special officer should be appointed for the purpose of conducting the election.

While fixing the next date of the case on September 27, the judge observed that "In future, the BCCI shall frame proper election rules to avoid all future complications."