The Supreme Court strongly criticised the Bihar Cricket Association, calling its disputes “dirty politics” and a “waste of public revenue,” while appointing former Supreme Court judge L. Nageswara Rao as the new Ombudsman to ensure smooth functioning.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court appointed retired Justice L. Nageswara Rao as the ombudsman for the Bihar Cricket Association to address allegations of illegal activities by certain office bearers.
A bench consisting of Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan issued this ruling to ensure the association operates smoothly without outside interference or internal disputes among its members.
This decision came during the court’s review of a plea challenging a Patna High Court order that cancelled the appointment of former High Court Judge Shaikesh Kumar Singh as ombudsman.
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The Supreme Court highlighted that the core issue pertains to the ombudsman’s appointment. While a single judge had appointed Justice Singh, the division bench of the high court subsequently overturned that decision, instructing the BCCI to appoint a new ombudsman.
The bench stated,
“We fail to understand why BCCI was involved in this matter, what the BCCI has to do with the appointment of ombudsman so far Bihar Cricket Association is concerned. In such circumstances, and in the larger public interest and for the smooth and effective functioning of Bihar Cricket Association, we set aside the appointment. We appoint Justice L. Nageswara Rao, former judge of the Supreme Court to act as Ombudsman of the Bihar Cricket Association. Let both sides have a formal meeting with Justice Rao to work out the modalities for the functioning of Bihar Cricket Association. The honorarium to be paid to Justice Rao shall be fixed in consultation with the parties,”
During the proceedings, counsel for the Bihar Cricket Association challenged the standing of Aditya Prakash Verma, the former secretary of the Cricket Association of Bihar, who had approached the court, noting that Verma had been removed from his position in 2023.
Senior advocate Rajiv Shakdher, representing Verma, urged the court to appoint an ombudsman to resolve ongoing conflicts.
The bench then remarked,
“All dirty politics, in all these types of associations and you all are wasting the time of the highest Court of the country trying to redress your own personal grievances. What a waste of public revenue, this cricket association, this Ombudsman and all, everything a farce.”
Case Title: SECRETARY BIHAR CRICKET ASSOCIATION vs BIHAR CRICKET ASSOCIATION, SLP(C) No. 21132-21133/2025
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